Recent reports indicate that President Donald Trump is set to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft from Qatar's royal family to temporarily serve as Air Force One. This move comes as Boeing continues to experience delays in producing the new presidential planes, originally scheduled for delivery in 2024. Reuters highlights that the Qatari offering, valued at about $400 million, aims to fill in until Boeing delivers the new planes, now expected in 2027 and 2028.
The proposed acceptance of the aircraft has sparked legal and ethical debates. The U.S. Constitution prohibits government officials from accepting gifts from foreign entities without congressional approval. However, as reported by El País, legal teams from both the White House and the Department of Justice have deemed the arrangement lawful, provided it is managed by the Department of Defense and later transferred to Trump's presidential library.
The situation has highlighted frustrations within the Trump administration over Boeing's delays. Trump has voiced dissatisfaction, exploring alternatives such as obtaining a plane from another country. Meanwhile, Boeing's CEO has acknowledged these frustrations and noted that efforts to accelerate the process are underway, with input from SpaceX's Elon Musk to streamline the delivery path, emphasizing the desire to meet presidential requirements in a timely manner.