Trump to Receive Custom Luxury Jet from Qatar for Presidential Use

The luxurious donation, set for eventual inclusion in Trump's presidential library, prompts scrutiny of gift acceptance norms.

In an unprecedented gesture, US President Donald Trump is on track to receive a state-of-the-art jumbo jet from Qatar, designated for use as his presidential aircraft. Reports indicate that the jet, a Boeing 747-8 modified into a "flying palace," will undergo retrofitting before entering service. The arrangement will also see the aircraft transition to Trump's presidential library following his term, igniting legal and ethical discussions among analysts and critics.

This news coincides with Trump's upcoming visit to Qatar—the first notable diplomatic engagement of his second term in office. Trump's administration is already scrutinizing the jet for any potential surveillance technology. The current Air Force One fleet comprises two Boeing 747-2000s, which have been operational since the early '90s. Typically, such presidential aircraft are transferred between administrations; only Reagan's library includes an Air Force One jet, which served seven presidents before eschewing the White House.

Earlier this year, the former president expressed dissatisfaction with Boeing regarding delays in delivering new planes, slated for availability until 2027 or 2028. "I'm not happy with Boeing. It takes them a long time to do, you know, Air Force One," Trump commented. Historically, Qatar has bolstered its diplomatic relations through substantial purchases of American armaments and gifts of private jets to other nations, including a luxury plane presented to Turkey in 2018.