Donald Trump Will Get To Keep Qatar Jet Even After He Leaves Office

President Donald Trump has accepted a luxury plane as a "gift" from Qatar's royal family that will be used as Air Force One―but will reportedly continue to use the jet even after he leaves office.

Officials from the Middle Eastern country said the gift was between governments rather than a personal present to Trump, noting the plane was being given by the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon. The Boeing 747-8 jet will be retrofitted to make it suitable for use as the presidential plane, including the addition of heightened security features.

However, the jet will then be donated to Trump's presidential library when he leaves office, meaning he can continue to use it, according to multiple news outlets.

Newsweek has reached out by email, outside of usual working hours, to the White House seeking further information and comment.

Why It Matters

The nature of the gift is unprecedented, given its estimated $400 million value, and has drawn sharp legal and ethical scrutiny. Critics argue that it amounts to foreign influence and possibly violates constitutional restrictions on gifts to sitting presidents.

Ongoing debates center on whether this transfer is a thinly veiled benefit for Trump or a genuine attempt by Qatar to reinforce U.S. ties.

What To Know

The Qatari Ministry of Defense has offered the Boeing 747-8 to the Pentagon, which will retrofit it with state-of-the-art security and communications to serve as Air Force One, as first reported by ABC News.

Multiple media reports say the arrangement dictates that, when Trump leaves office, the plane will no longer belong to the government but will instead be transferred to Trump's presidential library foundation, creating the potential for continued personal use by the former president.

While White House lawyers and the Department of Justice have reportedly advised the administration that the deal is legal, critics and ethics experts argue the Emoluments Clause may require congressional approval for such a significant foreign gift.

The Emoluments Clause is a provision in the U.S. Constitution that prohibits federal officeholders from accepting any present, emolument, office, or title from any foreign state without the consent of Congress.

What People Are Saying

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X, formerly Twitter: "Nothing says 'America First' like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It's not just bribery, it's premium foreign influence with extra legroom."

President Donald Trump responded to criticism on Truth Social: "So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump's administration is committed to full transparency."

What Happens Next

Qatari media attaché Ali Al-Ansari said the transfer remains "under consideration" and that "no decision has been made," according to ABC News.

Meanwhile, lawmakers and former government ethics officials are preparing for potential investigations and legal challenges, with some calling for congressional approval before the deal can close.

Trump's scheduled visits to Qatar and other Middle Eastern countries may bring further developments or official statements.