The Trump administration plans to accept the gorgeous Boeing 747-8 plane as a donation from the Qatar royal family. Donations from the Qatar Royal Family will be upgraded to serve as Air Force 1.
The plane was then donated when he took office in President Trump's presidential library, and authorities said he allowed him to continue using it as a civilian citizen.
The plan raises considerable ethical questions given the immeasurable value of a gorgeously appointed plane and the fact that Trump will use it once he takes office. It sold commercial Boeing 747-8 costs ranging from $400 million.
Trump's own private plane, known as “Trump Force One,” is the old 757 jets that first flew in the early 1990s and later used by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Trump bought it in 2011. Qatar jets will give him a virtually new plane for his own use if Trump continues to fly after he takes office.
It is expected to be announced in the coming days that the plan was previously reported by ABC News as Trump will make his first extended foreign trip to three Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar. It satisfies the president's desire for a new Air Force 1 after repeated delays, including a government contract with Boeing for two new jets that serve its purpose.
Trump toured the 747 owned by Katari. It was parked at Palm Beach International Airport over 10 years ago in February. The New York Times reported that the Jet is considered a potential new Air Force.
The plane donated from Qatar is expected to be modified by a military contractor called the L3Harris in Texas, and the work will begin once the government approves how to acquire the plane, officials said. Officials said that military capabilities are expected to be completed by the end of the year, and that they will be able to use them while Trump is still in office.
A White House spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.
Pentagon officials said on Sunday that the Air Force has not yet signed a contract on a contract to renovate the Qatar 747 to make the necessary security upgrades and modifications for AF1, and that the Air Force could not legally do so until it actually acquired ownership of the plane.
Assuming that happens, officials said it would still take a long time to complete the contract.
“We've been talking for years, not months,” said a Department of Defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, discussing sensitive details about future Air Force 1.
The model the government uses to address the ethical issues raised by donations follows when President Ronald Reagan's presidential library receives the air force that flew after it was used. But at the time, Reagan was not flying around him on a plane. It was installed in the museum section of his library.
Another person with knowledge of the efforts to win the plane said Catalis first offered to donate it to the Trump Library immediately, and made him use it while in office. But the government's lawyer said it would be a violation of the constitution's emolations clause, the person said.
The current plan is not violating the constitution's emoluments clause and has been approved by government lawyers who have concluded that the Department of Defense can accept gifts, officials said.
Eric Schmidt Reports of contributions.
