Reuters reported that the aircraft will be adjusted to suit the function of the Air Force One, and after Mr. Trump leaves office, it will be transferred to his presidential library.
The new Boeing 747-8 is worth about 400 million USD and if the deal becomes a reality, this will be one of the most valuable gifts ever received by the US government. ABC News was the first to report the plan.
The proposal has faced criticism from Democratic lawmakers and government ethics monitoring organizations. Citizens for Responsibility and ethics expressed concern that receiving gifts from a foreign government, especially without parliamentary approval, could violate the constitution. This looks like a $400 million gift from a country where the president has a personal business relationship, right before he meets with the countrys leader, said Jordan Libowitz, a spokesperson for the organization.
Qatar said it was still considering the transfer of the plane and "no decision has been made." Meanwhile, the Press Secretary of the White House, Ms. Karoline Leavitt, affirmed: Any gift from a foreign government is accepted in full compliance with current legal regulations. The Trump administration is committed to complete transparency.
Trump has previously expressed his disappointment at the delay in handing over the two new 747-8s, which he ordered for Boeing during his first term with an expectation of completion in 2024. Recently, the US Air Force said Boeing has proposed postponing the completion date to 2027.
In February, Mr. Trump visited the Qatar-owned aircraft 747-8 when it parked at Palm Beach International Airport, near Mar-a-Lago resort. According to the White House, the purpose of the tour is to give him a better understanding of the potential design for the new Air Force One version.
According to ABC, lawyers from the White House and the Department of Justice concluded that the Ministry of National Defense's receipt of the gift was legal and then transferred to the presidential library as a constitutional gift. The plane will not be presented or received during Mr. Trump's upcoming visit to Qatar.
