During his visit to the Middle East, President Donald Trump would receive the most expensive gift ever extended to the United States from a foreign government -- from the royal family of Qatar. It is a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet that President Trump will use as his new Air Force One.
Is it legal for Trump to accept a plane from a country?
ABC News reported that the gift is expected to be announced next week when Trump visits Qatar on his first foreign trip of his second term. A Qatari official said that it is not a gift to Trump, individually. But it is more of a government-to-government transaction.
Trump and his aides toured the plane earlier this year at the airport in Palm Beach and Trump boasted about the luxurious features of the plane; he was so impressed.
Trump has become frustrated that Boeing is not readying his new plane and at one point entrusted Elon Musk with the task of expediting the delivery of a new plane.
The plane is called the flying palace because of its plush interiors. It has plush, well-designed bathrooms, private bedrooms and a grand staircase. The aircraft flew around the members of the Qatari royal family and was then put in the service of the Turkish government.
Now the plane will be transferred to the United States Air Force, which will modify the 13-year-old aircraft to meet US military specifications required for a presidential plane. Aviation company L3Harris has been commissioned to overhaul the plane. The plane is expected to be ready by this year.
When Trump's second term ends, the plane is expected to be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.
Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat and vocal Trump critic, wrote on X, "[it] seems pretty clear that a $400 million 'air palace' from a foreign emir qualifies. The corruption is brazen."
"A few weeks ago, the Trump family business signed a deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar. A foreign monarchy (that funds and hosts terrorists) giving the U.S. president a $400M jet while cutting deals with his business? Textbook corruption," X handle Republicans Against Trump posted.
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