Trump is ready to accept a luxury plane as a gift from a runny nose

President Donald Trump is ready to accept a luxurious Boeing 747-8 as a gift from Qatar authorities – reports ABC News on Sunday. The plane would be the most expensive gift from a foreign state and would first serve as Air Force One, and then it would be handed over to the foundation to the presidential library.

According to television, citing sources familiar with the proposal, the plane would be accepted as a gift from a Qataro royal family and would serve as the presidential Air Force One aircraft, but just before the end of the current term would be handed over to the foundation of the Presidential Library of Trump. A decision on this matter is to be made during Trump's visit to the Middle East in the coming week.

In February, the president visited the plane – called the “flying palace” – during a visit to Florida.

According to ABC, if a gift was transferred, it would be the most expensive gift from a foreign state, and the value of the aircraft is estimated at $ 400 million. It would certainly also cause legal controversy. The US Constitution says that “no one who holds any office on behalf of the United States for a fee or honorarily, cannot be accepted without the consent of the Congress from the king, prince or foreign state of any gift, salary, office or title.” Already during the first term of Trump, this recipe was referred to by the president's critics, claiming that Trump broke them when the delegations of other countries stopped in his estates during his visits.

Despite this, the Prosecutor General Pam Bondi – who in the past acted as a lobbyist for the benefit of Qatar – and the main lawyer of Trump in the White House David Warrington came to the conclusion that the gift would be “legally acceptable” if the transfer of the aircraft depends on the transfer of his property to the presidential library before the end of his term, they say sources known from their findings.

Already on Sunday, this information was criticized by many politicians of the Democratic Party, including the former prosecutor, Congressmen Daniel Goldman.

“Trump plans to accept a aircraft worth $ 400 million as a gift from Qatar as a gift to serve as AF1. It should not be surprising that Pam Bondi, there was a Qatarian foreign agent, gave her consent” – wrote Goldman on X. “+ unconstitutional+ is not enough to determine this insolent corruption, let alone threats to national security,” he added.

Even during the first term of Trump, his administration placed orders for planes to serve as Air Force One, but the company has many years of delay with their delivery, which often causes Trump frustration expressed. Currently, the company plans to deliver the first machine 747 adapted to the presidential requirements in 2027, although originally the date was to be 2022.

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

OSK/ Kar/