President Donald Trump’s administration is in talks to accept a luxury jet from Qatar, according to multiple reports, a controversial move that the commander in chief defended in a post to social media.
On Sunday, ABC News first broke the story about the Middle Eastern country possibly gifting the so-called “flying palace” estimated to be worth $400 million, with an announcement expected next week.
Amid a flurry of critics, including many who generally support Trump, the president dismissed concerns in a post on Truth Social.
“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. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA,” Trump said.
Sources informed ABC News that the United States government was preparing to receive the Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet for Trump to use as the new Air Force One shortly before he leaves office, and after which it would be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation.
But Qatar’s Media Attaché to the United States, Ali Al-Ansari, told The Washington Post that the report was “inaccurate” and stressed that nothing has been finalized.
“The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made,” Al-Ansari said.
Qatar is one of the richest nations in the world, and spends massive sums of money to gain influence in the United States. It also uses its riches to bankroll the terrorist group Hamas, and Middle Eastern news powerhouse Al Jazeera. The oil-rich government frequently invites politicians on state-funded junkets to the Middle East, where they are treated to all the luxuries that Qatar has to offer.
Trump, who reportedly toured a Boeing 747-8KB at Palm Beach International Airport in February, is expected to visit Qatar this coming week as part of a swing through the Middle East.
However, a White House official told The New York Times the jet would not be presented or accepted next week.
“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,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The sources who spoke to ABC also claimed that Attorney General Pam Bondi provided a legal memo to White House lawyer David Warrington and they determined it was “legally permissible” for the transfer of ownership after the end of Trumps’ term.
Still, the news riled Democrats and some of Trump’s allies.
Pro-Trump activist journalist Laura Loomer urged Trump not to accept such a “gift” from Qatar, declaring, “I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him. But, I have to call a spade a spade. … This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true.”
