WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is planning to accept the gorgeous Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from Qatar’s ruler during his trip to the Middle East this week, with US authorities reportedly able to turn the plane into a potential presidential aircraft.
ABC News reported that the plane would be used as a new version of Air Force 1 until just before Trump took office in January 2029.
The gift will be announced when Trump visits Qatar as part of his trip, including his second term foreign trip in the United Arab Emirates, a stop in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Qatar government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday night.
President Donald Trump will leave after being held in Washington on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in the East Room of the White House. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
According to the ABC, the president, who is anticipating questions about the president accepting such a great gift from foreign governments, has prepared an analysis that argued that it is legal to do so. Anyone who currently holds in the Government Office of the recognition of an emolument, Office or title from a “king, prince, or foreign state” without the consent of the Constitution prohibits clauses I, 9, 9, and 8 of the Constitution.
Trump intends to convert Qatar aircraft into planes that can fly as president, and the Air Force plans to add secure communications and other classified elements.
However, the capabilities are still limited than the existing planes built to function as Air Force 1 and the other two aircraft currently under construction, according to a former US official who spoke Sunday to discuss plans that were not disclosed on Sunday.
The existing planes used as Air Force 1 have been significantly modified in their viability capabilities for the President due to a variety of contingencies, including radiation shielding and prevention technology. It also includes a variety of communication systems that allow the president to continue to contact the military and to issue orders from anywhere in the world.
Officials told The Associated Press that while it could quickly add some measures and communications systems to Qatar planes, it is less capable than existing Air Force single aircraft and long-term alternatives.
Neither Qatar planes nor future VC-25B aircraft have the ability to refuel from the air of current VC-25A aircraft.
Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747. There are two people, and the president flies both over 30 years ago. Boeing Inc. has a deal to create an updated version, but delivery is delayed while losing billions of dollars on the project.
Delivery was pushed some time later in 2028, the last year of the first plane in 2027 and the second Trump in 2028.
ABC said the new plane resembles the 13-year-old Boeing aircraft toured by the tour in February, and was parked at Palm Beach International Airport and spent the weekend at the Mar-A-Lago club.
Now run primarily by his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, Trump’s family business, is building a huge and growing interest in the Middle East. This includes a new contract to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar and is partnering with Qatar Dear, a real estate company backed by the country’s sovereign wealth fund.
Controlled by the Argnanis family, Qatar is home to Qatar Airlines, a national airline. It also appears that the country supported the boycott of Doha by four Arab countries in his first term. Later in his term, Trump praised Qatar.
Executives have dispelled concerns about the president’s policy interests, which have become obscure with family business interests. They note that Trump’s assets lie in trust managed by his children, and that the voluntary ethics agreement announced by the Trump organization in January prohibits the company from entering into direct contracts with foreign governments.
However, the same contract will allow you to trade with private companies overseas. This is a departure from Trump’s first term when the organization announced an ethical agreement banning foreign governments from dealing with foreign companies.
White House spokesman Caroline Leavitt said it was “silly” to suggest that Trump is “doing anything for his own interests” when asked Friday if the president might tie his family’s business together during his upcoming trip.
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Associated Press Writer Jon Gambrell from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
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