Trump Set To Keep Qatar’s $400M Air Force One Gift After Leaving Office

Taxpayers Foot Nearly $1 Billion Upgrade Bill

President Donald Trump is facing fresh scrutiny after plans emerged for him to retain a lavish Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar once he leaves office in 2029.

The aircraft, originally built for Qatar’s ruling family and valued at around $400 million, has now been converted into an interim Air Force One after a taxpayer-funded retrofit reportedly costing as much as $934 million.

The jet was unveiled at Joint Base Andrews on June 19, with Trump hailing it as “the world’s most luxurious plane” and thanking Qatar’s Emir for the gift.

The aircraft will serve as a stopgap presidential transport until Boeing finally delivers two long-delayed replacement Air Force One jets, now not expected before 2028.

Constitutional Questions Refuse To Go Away

The arrangement has triggered fierce criticism from opponents who argue the gift may violate the US Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, which restricts presidents from accepting valuable gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval.

Several lawmakers introduced resolutions challenging the deal, arguing that a foreign government providing a luxury aircraft worth hundreds of millions of dollars raises serious ethical concerns.

Administration lawyers concluded the transfer was legal because ownership technically passes to the Department of Defense before eventually being handed to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation.

Nuclear Missile Program Raided For Funding

The controversy deepened after reports that nearly $1 billion used to modify the aircraft was diverted from the Sentinel nuclear missile modernization program.

The retrofit included:

• Advanced encrypted communications systems

• Missile defense countermeasures

• Secure command-and-control facilities

• Presidential security upgrades

Officials say the aircraft now meets all operational requirements needed for presidential travel and national security emergencies.

Critics argue taxpayers are effectively paying hundreds of millions to upgrade a foreign-donated aircraft that could eventually become Trump's personal property.

Private Jet After The Presidency

Under the current arrangement, the aircraft must be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation no later than January 1, 2029.

That would potentially allow Trump continued use of the aircraft after leaving the White House.

Such a move would be unprecedented. Former Air Force One aircraft have traditionally remained government property, entered museums, or been retired from service.

Political Storm Brewing

Supporters argue the deal saves money compared with waiting years for Boeing’s delayed replacement aircraft.

Critics counter that Americans are being asked to fund nearly $1 billion in upgrades to a foreign gift that could ultimately benefit a former president personally.

With the aircraft scheduled to appear in July Fourth celebrations and remain in service until the new Air Force One fleet arrives, the political and legal battle surrounding the jet appears far from over.

SOURCE

In your face corruption

Took them some time to see how corrupt this chap is.

I sort of liked his way of handling things fast. But for the last years, we see that he is just another... (I wont say the word as it will be rude).

As for Qatar, we all also see what those people are like. Bribing their way through.... and then, increasing their prices once they have established shop on any venture.

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

Administration lawyers concluded the transfer was legal because ownership technically passes to the Department of Defense before eventually being handed to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation.

He has no shame. None. At. All.

only have 3 magic words "Lock Him Up"...

30 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

In your face corruption

It depends what he is doing for Qatar in exchange for that jet.

If it doesn't harm or even benefits the american public, then it's technically not a problem.

He was in the Middle East a while back and apparently made massive deals.

How much is Qatar investing in the US because of Trump?

All these things need to be looked at.

22 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

It depends what he is doing for Qatar in exchange for that jet.

If it doesn't harm or even benefits the american public, then it's technically not a problem.

He was in the Middle East a while back and apparently made massive deals.

How much is Qatar investing in the US because of Trump?

All these things need to be looked at.

It is in your face corruption, and a lot of congress and senators know this there are pages of news articles about it, and is being looked into as corruption, there is no such thing as technically not a problem corruption even if this was so Who is to say its ok YOU !!

The gift would need the approval of Congress or would otherwise be a violation of the Constitution.

Edited June 23Jun 23 by MikeandDow

The deficit will have mushroomed out of control * by the time he leaves office ,

a Billion here a Billion there , the cost of the illegal war, and the money they are

going to be giving Iran, plus all his beautification projects * its already ,but

going to be even more bigley.

regards worgeordie

2 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

It is in your face corruption, and a lot of congress and senators know this there are pages of news articles about it, and is being looked into as corruption, there is no such thing as technically not a problem corruption even if this was so Who is to say its ok YOU !!

Of course you would like to label it corruption.

But it's not that black and white.

This is from AI.

Trump secured massive investments from Qatar in his trip to the Middle East that benefits the whole country.

Its ok, calm down ladies. I hear he owns the plane through a tangled web of dozens of LLCs which were set up to muddle corrupt activities & money trails, which if memory serves(it does😅) is the lefts gold standard of business transparency.

Check mate I believe

3 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

The deficit will have mushroomed out of control * by the time he leaves office ,

a Billion here a Billion there , the cost of the illegal war, and the money they are

going to be giving Iran, plus all his beautification projects * its already ,but

going to be even more bigley.

regards worgeordie

The simple fact is Trump is a conman and he is ripping the yanks tax money

3 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

The simple fact is Trump is a conman and he is ripping the yanks tax money

sure, simple fact. i agree. hes profiting from being president. there hasnt been one i can recall other than carter who hasnt been accused of corruption

btw how much was obama worth when he was elected vs now?

6 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Its ok, calm down ladies. I hear he owns the plane through a tangled web of dozens of LLCs which were set up to muddle corrupt activities & money trails, which if memory serves(it does😅) is the lefts gold standard of business transparency.

Check mate I believe

So your president does not have any ethical standards just greed !!

3 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

So your president does not have any ethical standards just greed !!

yeah hes as bad as biden.

2 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

sure, simple fact. i agree. hes profiting from being president. there hasnt been one i can recall other than carter who hasnt been accused of corruption

btw how much was obama worth when he was elected vs now?

I could not careless about comparing who is the bigger conman it is the blatant in your face with no care for his people who are homeless and can not afford grocery corruption that is being carried out

Edited June 23Jun 23 by MikeandDow

3 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

I could not careless about comparing who is the bigger conman it is the blatant in your face with no care for his people who are homeless and can not afford grocery corruption that is being carried out

lol. got it. only trump is bad. nobody here can afford groceries. homelessness is caused by trump.

poor homeless. the amount of the benefits they can get makes them only middle class in europe lol

Edited June 23Jun 23 by Yagoda

He will probably sell it to Bezos or Musk for a bargain price of only 750 million....and republicans will do zero , the courts will rule it all illegal but trump will be dead and the corruption is yet another foot note in the most openly corrupt conman ever to enter the white house....Maybe trump will even promise to give the cult members a check for their share of the bribe?...they can deposit those checks along with the promised doge and tariff checks. Then use all that money to buy trump chinese hats, crypto crap, watches, phones, and pieces of rubber from his brilliant reflecting pool mess?

1 hour ago, pomchop said:

He will probably sell it to Bezos or Musk for a bargain price of only 750 million....and republicans will do zero , the courts will rule it all illegal but trump will be dead and the corruption is yet another foot note in the most openly corrupt conman ever to enter the white house....Maybe trump will even promise to give the cult members a check for their share of the bribe?...they can deposit those checks along with the promised doge and tariff checks. Then use all that money to buy trump chinese hats, crypto crap, watches, phones, and pieces of rubber from his brilliant reflecting pool mess?

People that spent the last 4 years calling everyone concerned about a corrupt POTUS as "being in a cult" suddenly expect to be taken seriously when thdy float accusations of Presidential corruption? Quite ridiculous, isn't it. The world just doesn't work like that. You Biden-bros made your bed....

16 hours ago, save the frogs said:

It depends what he is doing for Qatar in exchange for that jet.

If it doesn't harm or even benefits the american public, then it's technically not a problem.

He was in the Middle East a while back and apparently made massive deals.

How much is Qatar investing in the US because of Trump?

All these things need to be looked at.

It most definitely is a problem. There need not be any action on behalf of Qatar. none of what you state has any relevance. The US Constitution states

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

When did the US Congress approve the transfer of the aircraft to Trump's non existant Presidential library?

Trump can say whatever he wants. It won't change the US Constitution and the law of the land. It is unlikely he will ever have the ownership, or private use of the aircraft once his term in office expires. The US government will always retain the right of confiscation and I expect that that the next US administration will have a very different position. Mr. Trump will most likely not be around in 5 years and I doubt that the US public will accept it being used for the benefit of the Trump family.

17 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

It is unlikely he will ever have the ownership, or private use of the aircraft once his term in office expires.

Maybe Trump is trolling us (again) then.

11 minutes ago, Real Name Hidden said:

selling out the USA.

Selling out the USA is a bold claim.

Not sure you can ever prove such a claim.

It's a Trojan horse

16 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Of course you would like to label it corruption.

But it's not that black and white.

This is from AI.

Trump secured massive investments from Qatar in his trip to the Middle East that benefits the whole country.

Also from A.I. :
1. Deals benefiting the USA → Normal presidential work.

2. The plane → Accepted as a government asset for official use, but it sits in a gray area (or violation, per critics) of the Emoluments Clause because Congress did not formally consent. Presidents have accepted foreign gifts before (with varying levels of scrutiny), but the scale here is exceptional.

Posts with derogatory nicknames, intentional misspellings, or personal remarks will be removed. Spell names correctly for all sides of the debate.

18 hours ago, save the frogs said:

It depends what he is doing for Qatar in exchange for that jet.

If it doesn't harm or even benefits the american public, then it's technically not a problem.

He was in the Middle East a while back and apparently made massive deals.

How much is Qatar investing in the US because of Trump?

All these things need to be looked at.

This is perhaps the weakest apologist logic of the day. He is supposed to be a public servant, and having US citizens pay $1 billion to spruce up a jet he knows he's keeping does nothing to serve taxpayers, many of whom are struggling just to make it from paycheck to paycheck. EPIC fail frog!

17 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Of course you would like to label it corruption.

But it's not that black and white.

This is from AI.

Trump secured massive investments from Qatar in his trip to the Middle East that benefits the whole country.

"10% for the big guy" was a bad thing during the prior regime.

Not sure what was he was thinking, being the leader of the most powerful country in the world to accept

such a gift, it looks bad anyway you look at it and it screams venal and corruption,

I would expected Trump to be smarter than that.

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Not sure what was he was thinking, being the leader of the most powerful country in the world to accept

such a gift, it looks bad anyway you look at it and it screams venal and corruption,

I would expected Trump to be smarter than that.

Trump is Smart alright he is conning the American people out of there Tax dollars for himself

This ''gift' will come around to bite him on the derriere and soon, there always be be his name

associated with a bribe taking president, but somehow, I don't think he gives a flying hoot.

Recently, Congressman Jamie Raskin (an attorney and law professor) emphatically and plainly said that's never gonna happen. This plane belongs to the American people and that's where it's going to stay.