Media reports say U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to accept a luxury plane from the Qatari government.
According to The New York Times, Qatar’s royal family will donate a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to President Trump.
Reuters, citing its sources, reports that the luxury plane, which would be one of the most valuable gifts ever received by the U.S. government, would eventually be donated to Trump's presidential library after he leaves office. A new commercial 747-8 reportedly costs approximately $400 million.
Reuters notes that in a post on his social media site Truth Social late on Sunday, Trump appeared to confirm the proposal.
"So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane," he wrote.
Democrats and good government advocates reportedly said it was unethical and likely unconstitutional for Qatar to make such a gift.
According to Reuters, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, “Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump's administration is committed to full transparency.”
A Qatari spokesperson, Ali Al-Ansari, told The New York Times that the possible transfer of the aircraft was still under consideration and "no decision has been made," the newspaper reported.
ABC News was first to report the planned gift on Sunday.
