Trump says US government plans to accept luxury jet following reports of multimillion-dollar gift from Qatar
CNNMAY 1
Report: Qatar to Gift $400M Luxury Jet to Donald Trump
Above: A Boeing 747 sits on the tarmac of Palm Beach International Airport after Donald Trump toured the aircraft on Feb. 15, 2025. Image copyright: Roberto Schmidt/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
This is a fiscally responsible solution to replace aging Air Force One aircraft while saving hundreds of millions of dollars for American taxpayers. The transparent transaction through the Defense Department ensures full legal compliance and provides a much-needed upgrade to presidential transport capabilities without Boeing's continued delays.
Democratic narrative
The proposed gift violates the Constitution's emoluments clause and represents unprecedented foreign influence over the presidency. The $400 million aircraft would be the largest gift ever received from a foreign government, raising serious ethical concerns about conflicts of interest given Trump's business dealings in Qatar.