In a move that has stirred political and legal controversy, U.S. President Donald Trump said it would be “stupid” not to accept Qatar’s offer to donate a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet for presidential use, amid ongoing delays in the delivery of new Air Force One planes by Boeing.

“It’s a great gesture,” Trump said Monday at the White House. “I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.” Brushing off questions about whether Qatar might expect anything in return, Trump emphasized the aircraft would be a gift — and potentially an exhibit in his future presidential library.

But the offer from the oil-rich Gulf monarchy has raised alarm bells in Washington. The U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign states without congressional approval — a safeguard meant to prevent foreign influence over American leaders.

Four Democratic senators — Cory Booker, Brian Schatz, Chris Coons, and Chris Murphy — quickly condemned the plan. In a joint statement, they called it a “clear conflict of interest” and warned that it “raises serious national security questions, invites foreign influence, and undermines public trust in our government.”

Beyond legality, critics question the optics and implications of the United States accepting an ultra-sensitive aircraft — one that symbolizes presidential power — from a foreign government. Could such a gesture compromise the security, independence, or symbolism of Air Force One?

The Trump administration insists the plane would be donated not to the president personally, but to the Department of Defense. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that all procedures are being handled with “the utmost transparency” and “in full compliance with the law.”

“The Qatari government has graciously offered to donate a plane to the Department of Defense,” she said, dismissing the idea that Qatar expects any favors in return. “They know President Trump, and they know he only works with the interests of the American public in mind.”

But the Qatari side appeared to walk back the nature of the agreement. In a statement, Qatar’s media attaché in Washington, Ali Al-Ansari, said the arrangement is not a gift, but a “possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use” that is still under consideration between the two countries' defense ministries.

Trump, meanwhile, pushed back against questions of personal use, calling them “embarrassing” and suggesting instead that the jet could be used in a future museum exhibit, much like the retired Air Force One displayed at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

The president has long voiced frustration with Boeing over delays in delivering two new Air Force One aircraft. Earlier this year, he said his administration was considering alternatives — now potentially including this foreign option. Trump even has a scale model of his redesigned red, white, and blue Air Force One on the coffee table in the Oval Office.

For now, Trump continues to travel in his private jet, branded “Trump Force One,” which he used heavily during the 2024 election campaign.

At its core, this latest episode adds to the growing list of moments in Trump’s presidency where norms, institutions, and long-standing ethical boundaries are put to the test. Whether this jet ever becomes Air Force One or not, the political turbulence it sparked is already very real.

With information from AFP