Qatar on May 11 denied that it had made a final decision to gift President Donald Trump a jumbo jet to be used as Air Force One during a planned visit this week, saying that the idea was still “under consideration.”
Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché, said in a statement, “Reports that a jet is being gifted by Qatar to the United States government during the upcoming visit of President Trump are inaccurate.”
“The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense,” the statement said. “But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made.”
The estimated value of the plane is approximately $400 million.
The report said that the plane would be turned over to the Department of Defense, where it would be appropriately reconfigured to meet the requirements for any plane that carries the president. It would then serve as Air Force One for the remainder of Trump’s term before being turned over to the Trump Presidential Library.
According to the report, the administration prepared an analysis arguing that accepting the gift would be legal since it would not be given directly to Trump, but rather to the Pentagon and later the Trump Presidential Library.
When asked about the report in an email, the White House didn’t confirm or deny the story, but sent The Epoch Times a statement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“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,” the statement said.
The Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution states that “no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept ... any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”
Currently, two planes serve as Air Force One, both modified Boeing 747s. They’re over 30 years old, and Boeing is long overdue on a project to replace the planes that has been persistently delayed.
Delivery of the first plane is expected in 2027, while delivery of the second is scheduled for 2028.
The report prompted sharp criticism from Democrats.
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), the Democratic ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, argued that the Emoluments Clause prohibited Trump from accepting the plane without congressional approval.
“The Emoluments Clause of the Constitution leaves no room for doubt: no President may accept so much as a single benefit, payment, or favor from a foreign government without first obtaining the explicit consent of Congress,” Nadler said. “Anything less is a flagrant violation of the President’s oath of office and a profound betrayal of the public’s trust.”
