In what often is the most useful present ever prolonged to the United States from a overseas authorities, the Trump administration is getting ready to just accept an excellent luxurious Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal household of Qatar — a present that’s to be accessible to be used by President Donald Trump as the brand new Air Drive One till shortly earlier than he leaves workplace, at which period possession of the airplane will probably be transferred to the Trump presidential library basis, sources acquainted with the proposed association instructed ABC Information.
The present is predicted to be introduced subsequent week, when Trump visits Qatar on the primary overseas journey of his second time period, in accordance with sources acquainted with the plans.
Trump toured the airplane, which is so opulently configured it is called “a flying palace,” whereas it was parked on the West Palm Seashore Worldwide Airport in February.
A 13-year-old non-public Boeing plane that President Donald Trump toured on Saturday to take a look at new {hardware} and know-how options and spotlight the plane maker’s delay in delivering up to date variations of the Air Drive One presidential plane, takes off from Palm Seashore Worldwide Airport, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in West Palm Seashore, Fla. (AP Photograph/Ben Curtis)
Ben Curtis/AP
The extremely uncommon — unprecedented — association is certain to lift questions on whether or not it’s authorized for the Trump administration, and finally, the Trump presidential library basis, to just accept such a helpful present from a overseas energy.
Anticipating these questions, sources instructed ABC Information that attorneys for the White Home counsel’s workplace and the Division of Justice drafted an evaluation for Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth concluding that’s authorized for the Division of Protection to just accept the plane as a present and later flip it over to the Trump library, and that it doesn’t violate legal guidelines towards bribery or the Structure’s prohibition (the emoluments clause) of any U.S. authorities official accepting presents “from any King, Prince or overseas State.”
Sources instructed ABC Information that Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi and Trump’s prime White Home lawyer David Warrington concluded it could be “legally permissible” for the donation of the plane to be conditioned on transferring its possession to Trump’s presidential library earlier than the tip of his time period, in accordance with sources acquainted with their willpower.
The sources stated Bondi supplied a authorized memorandum addressed to the White Home counsel’s workplace final week after Warrington requested her for recommendation on the legality of the Pentagon accepting such a donation.
The White Home and DOJ did not instantly reply to request for remark. A spokesperson for the Qatari embassy didn’t reply to ABC’s inquiries.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters after disembarking Marine One upon arrival on the South Garden of the White Home in Washington, Sunday, Could 4, 2025.
Rod Lamkey/AP
The airplane will initially be transferred to the USA Air Drive, which is able to modify the 13-year-old plane to satisfy the U.S. navy specs required for any plane used to move the president of the USA, a number of sources acquainted with the proposed association stated.
The airplane will then be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Basis no later than Jan. 1, 2029, and any prices regarding its switch will probably be paid for by the U.S. Air Drive, the sources instructed ABC Information.
In line with aviation trade consultants, the estimated worth of the plane Trump will inherit is about $400 million, and that is with out the extra communications safety gear the Air Drive might want to add to correctly safe and outfit the airplane with a purpose to safely transport the commander in chief.
Because the Wall Road Journal first reported, the aviation firm L3Harris has already been commissioned to overtake the airplane to satisfy the necessities of a presidential jet.
President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One to depart for Alabama, on the South Garden of the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., Could 1, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Each the White Home and DOJ concluded that as a result of the present will not be conditioned on any official act, it doesn’t represent bribery, the sources stated. Bondi’s authorized evaluation additionally says it doesn’t run afoul of the Structure’s prohibition on overseas presents as a result of the airplane will not be being given to a person, however slightly to the USA Air Drive and, finally, to the presidential library basis, the sources stated.
The first plane used within the present Air Drive One fleet contains two growing old Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets which were operational since 1990. The Air Drive contract with Boeing to switch these plane has been riddled with delays and value overruns.
The unique contract was signed in 2018, however as of final 12 months, Boeing anticipated the plane wouldn’t be prepared till 2029, after Trump leaves workplace.
The president has expressed deep frustration with the delays, tasking Elon Musk to work with Boeing and the Air Drive to hurry up the method. These efforts have been modestly profitable. Boeing’s most up-to-date estimated supply date is now 2027, however Trump has made it clear he needs a brand new airplane this 12 months.
