President Trump is encountering turbulence (yes – pun intended) for reportedly accepting a multi-million dollar gift — an airplane — from a foreign government.
The plane is likely to be used as the temporary Air Force One during the majority of President Trump’s current term given the horrible holdups on Boeings planned Air Force One replacements.
Known as the ‘flying palace’, this ultra-luxury plane is worth a reported $400 Million even before the technological customizations, apparently already underway, to bring it up to snuff.
But this plane doesn’t need any advancements in the luxury department; we’re all good there!
But the TURBULENCE related to this gift is relative to the fact that the Constitution forbids an “Emolument” (in what is unsurprisingly called the “Emolument Clause“).
I get the idea — but I had to look up the specific definition:
In other words, no kickbacks or bribes are to be accepted by a sitting President, or any U.S. official for that matter.
And that’s the issue the President’s detractors are jumping on with this impending gift from the ruling family of Qatar.
JUST IN: Trump administration prepares to accept one of the most valuable gifts ever received by the American government – a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar – ABC
It’s known as a “flying palace.” pic.twitter.com/1BRlyqOIJU
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 11, 2025
The Trump Administration has reportedly already set up a defense contractor to handle the “tune ups” necessary for the President to use the plane as his stand-in Air Force One.
This gift would not just be “one of” the most valuable gifts ever received by a President from a foreign government, as Eric Daugherty stated — it would be THE most valuable:
Trump set to receive $400 million ‘flying palace’ from Qatar to use as Air Force One: report https://t.co/aDRNXCVosK pic.twitter.com/PYBdszFeqg
— New York Post (@nypost) May 11, 2025
The plans to take possession of the lavish gift from the Qatari royal family is expected to be announced during the President’s stop in Qatar, according to a report in the New York Post:
President Trump is set to receive a “flying palace” Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar’s royal family, which he will use as Air Force One, according to a report.
Trump, 78, intends to use the aircraft — called the most luxurious private jet in the world — as an interim presidential jet while Boeing completes the next generation Air Force One fleet following years of frustrating delays and cost-overruns.
The president is heading to the Middle East this week for his second foreign trip of his second term, and will swing through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
ADVERTISEMENTOfficials are expected to unveil the plans during Trump’s stop in Qatar, according to the report.
Over recent weeks, the Trump administration tapped defense contractor L3Harris to tune up the Boeing 747, which had previously been used by Qatar’s royal family, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Trump wants the aircraft ready as early as the fall, according to the Journal.
During his first term, the Trump administration awarded Boeing a $3.9 billion contract in 2018 to produce two new presidential planes for use as Air Force One. That project is not set be get completed until 2029, according to an estimate from Boeing last year.
At the moment, the US has two old Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets for Air Force One — the designation for any airplane that the president is on — which have been in operation since the 1990s.
The “ultra-luxury” aspect of the Boeing 747-B is definitely at the top of the luxury game when it comes to air travel.
Supposedly worth $400 Million and — according to a social media post by journalist Mario Nawfal — it has more room than most New York apartments:
BREAKING: TRUMP ALLEGEDLY SET TO ACCEPT A “FLYING PALACE” FROM QATAR’S ROYAL FAMILY
The Trump team is allegedly preparing to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet — fully decked out by Qatar’s royals with gold, private suites, and more square footage than most New York… pic.twitter.com/PjJmZnfo2s
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 11, 2025
Just check out the opulance in that video shared by Mario Nawfal!
Here’s the full screen video player of the clip he shared for easier viewing:
BREAKING: TRUMP ALLEGEDLY SET TO ACCEPT A “FLYING PALACE” FROM QATAR’S ROYAL FAMILY
The Trump team is allegedly preparing to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet — fully decked out by Qatar’s royals with gold, private suites, and more square footage than most New York… pic.twitter.com/PjJmZnfo2s
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 11, 2025
Here’s the full text of his post about the plane:
BREAKING: TRUMP ALLEGEDLY SET TO ACCEPT A “FLYING PALACE” FROM QATAR’S ROYAL FAMILY
The Trump team is allegedly preparing to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet — fully decked out by Qatar’s royals with gold, private suites, and more square footage than most New York apartments.
The aircraft is reportedly worth hundreds of millions and could become the most expensive gift ever accepted by the U.S. government.
Trump toured the jet in Palm Beach.
Now it may be headed from Qatari palace hangar to U.S. asset list.
Official announcement could come during his Middle East visit — because nothing says diplomacy like a personalized sky yacht.
Source: ABC News / Bloomberg
ABC News is reporting that both the White House and Department of Justice agree —
The gift does not constitute the bribery detailed in the Emolument Clause of the Constitution.
Here’s the plain reading of the Emolument Clause:
That determination made by the White House and DOJ hinges on the premise that there are no conditions or strings attached to the gifted plane.
That’s according to a video report by ABC News:
Regardless of the opulence, the primary reason President Trump is choosing to use this aircraft rather than the older planes currently at his disposal as the Commander-in-Chief is presumably the age of those planes.
Because even with the upgrades and technological add-ons, this plane will be “limited” in it’s capabilities, as compared to the older planes currently in use, according to a report by the Associated Press:
ABC News reported that Trump will use the plane as a new version of Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library.
Administration officials, anticipating questions about the president accepting such a large gift from a foreign government, have prepared an analysis arguing that doing so would be legal, according to ABC. The Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, Article I, Section 9, Clause 8, bars anyone holding government office from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any “King, Prince, or foreign State,” without congressional consent.
Trump intends to convert the Qatari aircraft into a plane he can fly on as president, with the Air Force planning to add secure communications and other classified elements to it.
But it will still have more limited capabilities than the existing planes that were built to serve as Air Force One, as well as two other aircraft currently under construction, according to a former U.S. official who was briefed about the plane and spoke Sunday on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not yet been made public.
Aside from the technicalities of the Emoluments Clause, my biggest concern is the potential for sabotage.
Or… the ever-present eavesdropping potential, which has become increasingly harder to discover.
I’m not sure how comfortable I am with President Trump flying around in a gifted plane from the Mideast regardless of WHICH ruling family, King, President or Premier it’s from.
There are a LOT of complicated relationships that could spell trouble in a deal like that.
Is it worth the President’s safety, or potential harm to the country as a result of highly advanced listening devices?
The President is no dummy — and the feeling I get is that he’s pushing for this transaction to enable him a more robust national and global presence throughout his term than would otherwise be safe using the older Air Force One models.
But I am still spooked by the idea, even given the Qatar Royal family’s apparent longstanding friendliness towards the United States, and President Trump in particular.
Maybe that’s just my paranoia?
Meanwhile, we’re still waiting on the “very, very big announcement” that is supposedly related to this upcoming Mideast trip.
And I can’t help but wonder — does this incredible generosity on the part of the Qatari Royals have anything to do with whatever it is the President is characterizing as “very, very big”?
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport.
View the original article here.
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