Qatar plans to hand over a $400 million Boeing 747-8 aircraft known as the “flying palace” to US President Donald Trump. This is stated in the statement of the Qatari Embassy in the United States, Ali Al-Ansari, informs Political.
The plane is planned to be used as a temporary presidential plane. Currently, the issue is at the stage of discussion, the final decision has not yet been made. US President Donald Trump confirmed his readiness to accept this luxurious gift.
This drew sharp criticism from the Democratic Party. In particular, Congressman Adam Schiff accused Trump of violating the Constitution, which prohibits accepting gifts from foreign countries without the consent of Congress. Senator Chuck Schumer called the board transfer idea “not just bribery, but premium foreign influence.” Congressman Richie Torres insisted on an “immediate” ethics review.
In response, Trump accused the Democrats of corruption:
“The fact that the Department of Defense is getting a free Boeing 747 to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One as a gift in a very public and transparent deal is so troubling to corrupt Democrats that they’re insisting that we pay the maximum for the plane.”.
The announcement about the transfer of the plane is planned to be made this week during Trump’s foreign trip to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The head of state will be able to use this plane until the end of the presidential term, after which it will be transferred to the fund of the presidential library. All costs related to the operation of the aircraft will be covered by the US Air Force.
The gift is not a reward for the president’s actions, and since the transfer is to a government institution and not to an individual, it is not inconsistent with the Constitution. If implemented, the Boeing 747-8 would be one of the most expensive gifts ever received by the US government.
