U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet taken delivery of the $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet gifted by the Qatari royal family.
The plane, which could temporarily serve as Air Force One until the new presidential aircraft is ready, has sparked legal and political controversy.
If finalized, it would be the most expensive gift ever offered to a U.S. president by a foreign government—valued at roughly 100 times more than the total value of all foreign gifts to U.S. presidents since 2001, according to State Department data cited by Axios.
The aircraft is still being transferred to the Department of Defense, and discussions about its handover to the U.S. government are ongoing. While the deal hasn’t been completed, it has drawn bipartisan criticism, with concerns it could violate the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which bars foreign gifts without congressional approval.
The White House insists the gift meets legal standards, but the arrangement remains under review. The Qatari government has also not yet finalized the transfer.
Defending the decision, Trump said: “We’re the United States of America. I believe we should have the most impressive plane.”
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