President Donald Trump is expected to receive a $400 million Boeing 747 aircraft from the government of Qatar, a move that’s stirring significant controversy. According to The Washington Post, the massive jet will be handed over to the U.S. Department of Defense as an unconditional gift, and is set to become a new version of Air Force One for Trump’s use until the end of his term. Afterward, it would reportedly be transferred to his presidential library foundation.
This so-called “donation” is raising alarm bells across legal, ethical, and national security circles. Under the U.S. Constitution, public officials are not allowed to accept gifts from foreign governments without approval from Congress a safeguard designed to prevent undue influence or conflicts of interest.
Yet, despite this clear rule, most Republican lawmakers have either downplayed or ignored the issue. One senator, Steve Daines of Montana, casually responded with, “Can’t beat free,” when asked about the situation.
Trump, unsurprisingly, seems enthusiastic about the gift. He has reportedly called the aircraft a “palace in the sky” and openly questioned why he wouldn’t accept something being offered for free. In a conversation with Fox News host Sean Hannity earlier this year, Trump asked rhetorically, “Why wouldn’t I accept a free gift?” while aboard the current Air Force One.
To cover its legal tracks, the memorandum signed by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani explicitly states that the gift is not a bribe or an attempt to gain influence. The document goes out of its way to say that nothing in the agreement should be seen as bribery or corruption.
Even so, critics point out that regardless of how carefully the language is crafted, the act of accepting a multimillion-dollar asset from a foreign government while in office opens the door to serious ethical concerns. It raises questions about why Qatar would give such a gift, what it expects in return, and how such gestures might affect U.S. foreign policy.
What makes this even more complicated is the hidden cost to American taxpayers. Although the aircraft itself is being given for free, it cannot be used as Air Force One immediately. It will need extensive modifications and security upgrades to meet presidential standards — a process that could take years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars. That means the U.S. government will still end up spending a large amount of money on a “free” plane.
Trump has shown a casual attitude toward receiving gifts from world leaders. At a White House meeting in May, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa jokingly told Trump that he didn’t have a plane to offer. Trump responded seriously, saying he would accept one if it were offered.
All of this adds to a growing list of concerns about how Trump navigates the rules of office, especially when it comes to personal benefit, international relationships, and financial transparency. While his supporters might view the Qatar plane as a generous gesture that benefits the country, critics argue it’s another example of Trump blurring the lines between public duty and private gain — and doing so in full view of the American people.
