Accepting lavish gifts to a U.S. president from foreign powers used to be prohibited by the emoluments clause of the Constitution, but alas, here we are reporting that the Trump misadministration is accepting a $400 million super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar to be used in place of Air Force One until he leaves office — when ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation.
Trump toured the plane, which is so opulently configured it is known as “a flying palace,” while it was parked at the West Palm Beach International Airport in February.
Lawyers for the White House counsel’s office and the Department of Justice drafted an analysis for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth concluding that is legal for the Department of Defense to accept the aircraft as a gift and later turn it over to the Trump library, and that it does not violate laws against bribery or the Constitution’s prohibition (the emoluments clause) of any U.S. government official accepting gifts “from any King, Prince or foreign State.”
The U.S. Air Force will modify the 13-year-old aircraft to meet the U.S. military specifications required for any aircraft used to transport the president of the United States, and any costs relating to its transfer will be paid for by the U.S. Air Force.
