The United States has received a luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft from Qatar, which will be used as part of the Air Force One fleet. The Pentagon said on Wednesday that U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth accepted the aircraft, valued at around $400 million, as a gift from the Qatari royal family.
Sean Parnell, the Chief Pentagon spokesperson, claimed that the jet was accepted in accordance with all federal requirements. The Defence Department is currently trying to upgrade the plane’s security systems and mission-ready configurations to suit the president’s operational requirements.
The Trump administration has stated that the aircraft may serve as Air Force One during President Donald Trump’s presidency and will then be transported to his presidential library. However, the gesture has generated a heated political debate in Washington.
President Trump defended the choice, calling it “stupid” to turn down such a generous gift. Nonetheless, some have cited the move as violating the United States Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which bars officials from taking foreign gifts without Congressional consent.
Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, blasted the acceptance, describing it as a historic violation and comparing it to receiving a foreign bribe.
