Trump set to accept luxury jet as gift from Qatar, ABC says

Washington: President Donald Trump’s administration is likely to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar’s royal family, in what may be the most valuable gift ever received from a foreign government, ABC News reported Sunday.

The gift is expected to be announced next week, when Trump visits Qatar as part of his Middle East tour, ABC News cited people familiar with the plans as saying.

The super luxury Boeing Co. 747-8 jumbo jet is to be used as Air Force One, the people told the publication.

The White House and Department of Justice didn’t immediately respond to ABC’s request for comment, including on whether the gift is legal. A spokesperson for the Qatari embassy did not respond to requests for comment, ABC said.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump’s top White House lawyer David Warrington drafted an analysis concluding that the donation of the aircraft would be “legally permissible” as long as its ownership is transferred to Trump’s presidential library before the end of his term, according to ABC.

The plane will then be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation no later than Jan. 1, 2029, and any costs relating to its transfer will be paid for by the US Air Force, the sources told ABC News.

According to aviation industry experts, the estimated value of the aircraft Trump will inherit is about $400 million, and that's without the additional communications security equipment the Air Force will need to add to properly secure and outfit the plane in order to safely transport the commander in chief.