Trump is supposed to receive a « flying palace » from Qatar, but for a bribe it is not to go

US President Administration Donald Trump It is supposed to be just before the royal family of Qatar receives an extremely valuable gift-a super-luxurious Boeing 747-8 aircraft.

As reported by an American television network ABC NewS, who refers to resources familiar with plans, is expected to serve as a « flying palace » as a new Air Force One Presidential aircraft until the end of Trump’s term and then passed into the ownership of the Foundation of his Presidential Library. This move, which could represent the most valuable gift of a foreign government to the United States in history, is already raising numerous questions about legality and ethics.

According to sources for ABC News The gift is to be officially announced next week, when President Trump will visit Qatar on his first foreign tour in the second term. Trump is a specific, thirteen -year -old aircraft previously owned by one of the richest members of the Qatar royal family, Hamada bin jasim bin jaber al tanialready viewed in February this year when it was parked at the West Palm Beach International Airport in Florida. Due to its extremely luxurious equipment, it earned the nickname « Flying Palace » or « Palace in the Sky ». The aircraft value is estimated at about $ 400 million, before the US air force adds all the necessary communication and security equipment for the safe transport of the US president.

Such an unusual, even overvalued agreement immediately raises serious questions about whether it is legal for Trump’s administration and, consequently, for the foundation of his presidential library, to accept such a valuable gift from a foreign force, according to US media. They were expected to be prepared for these questions in the White House. Sources are for ABC News said that lawyers from the Office of the White House Advisor and the Ministry of Justice prepared a legal analysis for the Secretary of Defense Fifth Hegsetha.

It should find that it is legally accepted for the Ministry of Defense as a gift and later handed over to the Trump Library, and that it does not violate the laws against bribery or the constitutional provisions (TA « Emoluments Claus »), which prohibits US officials from receiving gifts « from any king, prince or foreign country. »

After reporting ABC They are such a judicial minister Pam Bondi Like Trump’s Chief Lawyer in the White House David Warrington found that the donation of the aircraft would be « legally permissible » if it were conditioned by the transfer of ownership to Trump’s Presidential Library before the end of his term. Bondi was expected to provide a legal memorandum on the subject last week on the subject after Warrington applied for an opinion.

Neither the White House nor the Justice Ministry is on requests for comment for ABC They did not immediately respond, nor did the spokesman for the Qatar embassy. Critics and Democrats, however, have already responded to the reporting by outrage and labeled the agreement as « bribery in the middle of white ».

The planned transfer process is as follows: the aircraft will first be handed over to US air forces (United States Air Force), which will process and equip this thirteen -year -old vessel in accordance with all the military specifications needed to transport the President of the United States. As the first reported Wall Street Journalfor the renovation of the aircraft to meet the requirements of the presidential aircraft, the already rented L3arris airline. No later than 1 in January 2029 at the latest, the aircraft will then be transferred to the ownership of the Donald Trump Presidential Library Foundation, and all the costs associated with this transfer will be covered by US aviation forces, writes ABC.

The Legal Analysis of the White House and the Ministry of Justice is supposed to be based on the assumption that the gift is not conditioned by any official act, so it does not represent a bribe. It also does not violate the constitutional ban on foreign gifts because the aircraft is not given to the individual but to the US air force and later the Presidential Library Foundation.

The background of this story is related to the outdated current Air Force One aircraft fleet, which includes two Boeing 747-200, operational since 1990. Boeing contract to replace these aircraft, signed in 2018, is facing major delays and expansion of costs. Last year, Boeing predicted that new planes would not be prepared before 2029, ie after the end of Trump’s current term.

The President has repeatedly expressed deep frustration for delays and even hired Elona Muskto work with Boeing and Air Force in accelerating the process. These efforts were moderately successful, as the Boeing’s last estimated delivery date is now 2027, but Trump made it clear that he wanted a new aircraft this year. As early as February, after a visit to the Qatar plane, Trump told reporters that he was « not satisfied » with Boeing and that his administration was thinking of « something else » or even buying another plane, he reported Bloomberg News.

The upcoming visit to President Trump in Qatar, which some call for a visit to a « friend-car » (English. frenemy), so obviously will come up with more than diplomatic conversations. The possible adoption of the « flying palace » will undoubtedly continue to stir ghosts and ask questions about the borders of acceptable in international relations and internal policy of the United States.