In what could become the most extravagant foreign gift ever accepted by the United States, the Trump administration is reportedly finalizing plans to receive a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar’s royal family, according to sources familiar with the matter. The aircraft—fitted with ultra-luxurious features that have earned it the nickname “a palace in the sky”—is set to serve as an alternative Air Force One for President Donald Trump before eventually being handed over to his presidential library foundation.
Sources say the gift will be announced next week during Trump’s upcoming trip to Qatar, marking his first international visit of his second term.
President Trump personally inspected the aircraft earlier this year while it was stationed at West Palm Beach International Airport. The opulent design of the plane, originally customized for royalty, is said to rival the grandeur of high-end hotels.
The deal, which insiders describe as unprecedented, is expected to raise significant ethical and legal questions, particularly about whether accepting such a valuable gift from a foreign government is permitted under U.S. law.
However, multiple legal opinions prepared by the White House counsel’s office and the Department of Justice argue the gift is lawful. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly received a legal review indicating it is within the Department of Defense’s authority to accept the aircraft and later transfer it to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation without breaching federal bribery laws or the Constitution’s emoluments clause—which bars U.S. officials from receiving gifts from foreign states.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House legal adviser David Warrington are said to have endorsed the plan, concluding that the donation is legally sound if ownership of the aircraft is handed over to Trump’s library foundation before the end of his presidency. Bondi reportedly submitted a formal legal memo backing the arrangement.
Neither the White House nor the Justice Department have commented on the matter, and the Qatari embassy has not responded to inquiries.
The jet, estimated to be worth around $400 million, will first be delivered to the U.S. Air Force, which will retrofit the 13-year-old plane to meet presidential security and communication standards. Once the modifications are complete and Trump’s term nears its end, the aircraft will be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation by January 1, 2029. The U.S. government is expected to cover the costs associated with the transfer.
Industry experts note the aircraft’s value could climb significantly once it’s equipped with the sophisticated technology needed for secure presidential travel.
