Qatar’s prime minister on Tuesday defended the country’s offer of a luxury Boeing jet to U.S. President Donald Trump, amid scrutiny in Washington over whether the gift could be seen as an attempt to exert political influence.
Qatar dismissed concerns on Tuesday that its offer of a Boeing 747-8 aircraft to President Donald Trump was an effort to buy influence, calling it a routine gesture between allies. The comments came one day after U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer introduced legislation that would prevent any foreign aircraft from operating as Air Force One.
Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani described the offer as “a normal thing that happens between allies,” and emphasized Qatar’s long-standing relationship with the United States.
“I don’t know why people consider this bribery,” Al Thani said. “We’ve always been a reliable partner to the U.S., and we hope that politicians there see us as such.”
The gift—reportedly a $400 million Boeing 747-8 retrofitted to luxury specifications—has drawn criticism from both lawmakers and ethics experts. Legal scholars have raised questions about whether the gift could violate U.S. laws governing foreign gifts to officials, designed to prevent corruption and undue influence.
Trump, however, downplayed ethical concerns. “It would be stupid to turn down such a generous offer,” he said. The former president added that the aircraft, once modified for security, would be donated to his presidential library and not used for personal purposes after leaving office.
Former Vice President Mike Pence also weighed in, calling the situation “a bad idea” and citing “profound issues” with the optics and implications of accepting such a gift from a foreign government.
The plane, if accepted, would require extensive modifications to meet U.S. security standards, including advanced communications systems and defensive technologies.
Qatar has not commented on whether the plane was intended for use as Air Force One or for any official role. The proposed U.S. legislation, titled the Presidential Airlift Security Act, aims to ensure that aircraft used for presidential transport are owned, operated, and secured by the U.S. government.
The controversy comes as Qatar continues to position itself as a key diplomatic and economic partner to the U.S. in the Gulf region.
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