Qatar on Sunday denied reports that the Trump administration is preparing to accept a luxury jet from the country’s royal family in the coming days.
ABC News reported earlier Sunday that a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet would become available for President Donald Trump as Air Force One and then donated to his presidential library foundation so he could use it after leaving office.
But Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s Media Attaché to the U.S., told POLITICO the reports are “inaccurate,” suggesting the donation, at the very least, had yet to be finalized.
“The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made,” he said.
The aircraft in question is worth $400 million, ABC reported, and was set to be announced during Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East. A person familiar with the situation said no announcement is planned for Trump’s visit.
Trump will soon depart for a four-day trip to the Middle East, with stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
A U.S. official with direct knowledge of the plan confirmed there had been talks about the emir of Qatar gifting the plane to Trump to use as Air Force One. And a former U.S. official familiar with the situation said the talks involved the Qatari defense ministry and the Pentagon. Both were provided anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak about the issue, which is sensitive.
Citing the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, some key Democrats pounced on the report Sunday, accusing Trump and his administration of engaging in corruption and bribery.
“Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar,” wrote Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a post on X. “It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a frequent target of the president’s ire, accused Trump of violating that clause (in Article 1 of the Constitution), which bars any federal government office holders from accepting any “present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state,” absent Congressional approval.
“Seems pretty clear that a $400 million ‘air palace’ from a foreign emir qualifies,” he wrote on X. “The corruption is brazen.”
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