Donald Trump has just accepted a small gift from the royal family of Qatar. A Boeing 747-800 valued at just over 400 million dollars. Don’t worry, we also don’t know how many zeros that number has. But as we said, a simple gift, almost like a macaroni necklace.
But… is it a gift or a strategy? This news comes right before the President’s tour of the Arabian Gulf, and the opposition has called this operation a “scam” hinting at accusations of bribery and corruption.
Of course, the White House denies any ulterior motives, stating that the donation does not violate the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
What is the gift?
An airplane, but not just any airplane, a luxury version of the classic Boeing 747-800, one of the largest commercial airplanes in the world (to give you an idea, these typically carry around 570 passengers per trip…).
In this case, the luxury version includes all the comforts a head of state could need. The New York Times described the aircraft as a “flying palace” because its interior is filled with gold finishes, lounges, private meeting rooms, and presidential suites, a true extravagance.
Who is behind this gift?
The royal family of Qatar, one of the most influential in the Arabian Gulf, will donate the plane personally to the U.S. government, although its use will be exclusive to President Trump… And of course, this has raised questions about whether it violates the legality of the U.S. Constitution.
What is the Emoluments Clause?
It is a clause that prohibits federal officials, including the president, from accepting gifts, payments, or benefits from foreign governments without the approval of Congress. The goal is to prevent undue influence from foreign powers over U.S. leaders, ensuring political and ethical independence during their duties.
Nevertheless, lawyers from the White House and the Department of Justice have concluded that accepting the plane does not constitute a violation, as it is a documented and transparent delivery, with the intention of later donating it to a public institution.
Trump’s response to the murmurs
In response to accusations of corruption and bribery from several Democratic senators, Trump quickly replied on his Truth Social account:
“Democrats are losers!”, he wrote, defending that there is no conflict of interest nor personal gain involved…
According to his staff, the president plans to donate the plane to his future presidential library before leaving office in 2029, which would demonstrate his intention to maintain transparency in the process.
A replacement for Air Force One
Although the current Air Force One remains operational, the new Boeing would be used as a temporary alternative for certain strategic trips, especially those to the Middle East.
What are the rumours saying?
Of course, theories about this gift quickly surfaced. The first is about the image cleanup of the Qatari royal family, as it is known they have invested heavily in improving their global reputation as a reliable ally of the West. Issues like the absence of human rights in their country, well, maybe they’ll talk about that another day…
Another theory on the table is the most obvious one: they want to buy influence in Washington… Favouritism? Long-term military agreements? In any case, it is clear that the House of Thani knows exactly what they are doing, and perhaps they are planning something mere mortals are not aware of.
What is clear is that they hit the target: feeding and inflating Trump’s ego and power even more.