The reported sale of a Boeing 747-8 by Qatar’s royal family, including to former U.S. President Donald Trump, has sparked ethical controversy and operational issues. The plane, originally purchased for Qatari royals and idle since 2020, has become the focus point of whether it’s an appropriate presidential plane and possible constitutional controversy. Trump positions the gift as cost-saving, but his opponents argue that it’s a thinly disguised diplomatic bribe.
History of the aircraft: A royal commodity in search of an owner
The featured Boeing 747-8, tail A7-HBJ (later re-registered as P4-HBJ), was delivered to Qatar Amiri Flight in 2012. Ordered as an airborne palace for Qatar’s former prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, the aircraft has a base price of $367 million and a one-off interior by Parisian design firm Cabinet Alberto Pinto adding tens of millions on top. Its 4,500-square-foot cabin comes with opulent amenities: blue-and-gold bathroom, main lounge with vaulted ceiling, offices, guest bedrooms, and a play area for children. Though luxurious, the plane could not sell even after being placed on the market in 2020, being put off by size, age (37 years), and costs of operation.
Qatar’s Al Thani royal family tried to sell the plane to brokers, highlighting its “meticulous maintenance” and unique VIP configuration. In 2025, the plane was still unsold, providing Qatar an opportunity to turn it into a diplomatic gift.
The proposed gift: Air force one’s replacement?
News emerged in May 2025 that the Qatar Ministry of Defense was negotiating with the U.S. Department of Defense to purchase the plane for use as a temporary Air Force One. Trump, irritated by the delay in Boeing’s delivery of brand-new presidential planes, viewed the 747-8 as a stopgap. The plan involved the jet, after being transferred, being donated subsequently to Trump’s presidential library, enabling his personal use upon leaving office.
However, Qatari authorities soon made it certain that no final agreement had been reached. Qatar’s U.S. media attaché, Ali Al-Ansari, considered initial reports “inaccurate,” citing ongoing legal and security reviews. The White House confirmed the same, as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ensured adherence to gift acceptance guidelines.
Ethical and legal issues: Emoluments and spying risks
Legal scholars sounded warnings under Emoluments Clause, which prohibits U.S. officials from receiving foreign gifts without Congressional consent. Opponents claimed that the eventual gift of the jet to Trump’s library-a private institution-might be a personal gain prohibited by the Constitution. Former ethics officials indicated temporary government use would have to be closely monitored to prevent conflict of interest.
Security issues were also in the air. The plane would have to undergo heavy modification before it could be used, such as anti-surveillance sweeps, secure communications equipment, and missile defense systems. These modifications, costing hundreds of millions, threatened to nullify the taxpayer savings reportedly achieved.
A luxurious interior in conflict with Presidential needs
The 747-8 is designed for opulence, not functionality. Its 89-seat version boasts such amenities as silk-upholstered reclining seats, marble-trimmed dining table, and master suite with king-sized bed. By contrast, today’s Air Force One (a specially outfitted 747-200B) emphasizes survivability, including secure communications, in-flight aerial refueling, and electromagnetic pulse resistance. Scaling the Qatari airplane to such an extent would add complexity and expense, Boeing analysts contend.
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