Qatar Gifts Trump $400 Million Jet

Former US President Donald Trump is reportedly set to receive a lavish Boeing 747-8 jet, nicknamed the "Flying Palace", from the Qatari government in a move expected to deepen diplomatic ties between Washington and Doha.

The aircraft, valued at about $400 million, is poised to become a temporary replacement for the aging Air Force One amid delays in the US presidential fleet upgrade.

According to exclusive reports from ABC News, the high-profile gift will be formally announced during Trump’s upcoming visit to Doha in mid-May.

The plane will be used throughout the remainder of his presidency before being transferred to the Trump Presidential Library in January 2029.

Sources familiar with the matter say the Qatar-funded aircraft will first be handed over to the US government before being passed on to the Trump Foundation, in compliance with constitutional guidelines that prohibit federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments.

A legal memo issued by the US Department of Justice reportedly clears the deal, provided the jet is donated to the government first and later redirected to a nonprofit entity.

The US Air Force will assume responsibility for retrofitting the jet to meet Air Force One’s security and communications standards. The modifications are already underway, led by L3Harris Technologies, a defense contractor specializing in aerospace systems.

This unexpected development comes after years of setbacks in the official Air Force One replacement program managed by Boeing. Originally slated for delivery in 2024, the new aircraft are now delayed until at least 2029.

The Qatari gift is seen by analysts as a strategic diplomatic gesture aimed at strengthening ties with the United States through high-profile symbolic initiatives that carry both political and investment significance.

Despite concerns about the optics and legality of such a high-value gift from a foreign government, the structured legal approach appears to circumvent constitutional issues, reinforcing Qatar’s growing influence in American diplomatic and defense circles.