 "U.S. President Donald Trump talks with Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as he departs Al Udeid Air Base, en-route to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in Doha, Qatar, May 15, 2025. REUTERS")
Qatar’s Prime Minister has defended the Gulf nation’s offer of a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet to US President Donald Trump, insisting that the gesture is not a form of bribery and would be made “very legally.”
The aircraft, once owned by Qatar’s royal family and dubbed a “palace in the sky,” is among the most lavish gifts ever offered by a foreign government to an American president. Trump revealed earlier this month that Qatar had offered him the luxury jet to serve as Air Force One.
Facing mounting scrutiny in the US, where critics have raised concerns about foreign influence and ethics, Qatar’s Prime Minister stated that the gift reflected longstanding ties between the two countries and was being handled in compliance with legal protocols.
The offer has already prompted US lawmakers to introduce a bill to prevent foreign aircraft from being used as the official presidential plane. If accepted, the gift would require extensive security retrofitting and raise complex legal and political questions about propriety and transparency.
Trump dismissed ethical concerns, calling it “stupid” to reject the offer. He stated that the aircraft would be donated to his presidential library and not used for personal purposes after his term.
Experts noted that converting the luxury jet into a secure presidential aircraft would require extensive upgrades, including missile defense systems and encrypted communications.
During Trump’s high-profile visit to Doha—the first by a US president in over two decades—Qatar Airways announced a record order for 160 Boeing widebody jets, with options for 50 more. The multibillion-dollar deal marked a significant win for both Trump and Boeing.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe visit also highlighted Qatar’s renewed ties with Washington. In 2017, Trump supported a regional embargo against Qatar by several Gulf nations, accusing it of backing terrorism. However, Doha has since regained favour in US circles, in part through major economic and defence partnerships.