The Blubber

In what could be the most valuable gift ever given to the United States by a foreign nation, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a lavishly outfitted Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar’s royal family—a plane intended for use by President Donald Trump as a temporary Air Force One, with ownership set to transfer to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation before he leaves office, according to sources familiar with the arrangement who spoke to ABC News.

The formal announcement is expected next week during President Trump’s upcoming visit to Qatar—his first international trip since beginning his second term, sources said.

Trump reportedly toured the aircraft, dubbed a “flying palace” for its extravagant interior, when it was stationed at West Palm Beach International Airport in February.

The aircraft—a 13-year-old private Boeing jet—caught Trump’s attention as he inspected it for its updated technology and advanced features, using the visit to draw attention to delays in Boeing’s delivery of the new Air Force One fleet.

The unprecedented nature of the agreement is already stirring legal questions about the propriety and legality of a sitting U.S. president and his foundation accepting a high-value gift from a foreign state.

In anticipation of scrutiny, sources say attorneys in the White House counsel’s office and the Department of Justice prepared a legal opinion for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, concluding that it is lawful for the Department of Defense to receive the aircraft and subsequently transfer it to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. The memo reportedly argues the deal does not violate federal anti-bribery laws or the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits U.S. officials from accepting gifts from foreign states.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Counsel David Warrington, according to those familiar with the matter, determined that the arrangement was legally acceptable if ownership of the aircraft were formally passed to the library foundation before Trump’s term ends. Bondi reportedly delivered a legal memo to the White House last week in response to Warrington’s request for guidance.

Neither the White House nor the Justice Department responded to ABC News’ request for comment. The Qatari embassy also declined to comment.

Initially, the jet will be handed over to the U.S. Air Force, which will modify it to meet the military’s stringent security and communications standards required for transporting the president, according to multiple sources familiar with the plan.

The aircraft will then be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation by no later than January 1, 2029, with the Air Force covering any associated transfer costs.

Aviation analysts estimate the aircraft’s market value at around $400 million, not including the specialized modifications the Air Force will install for secure presidential use.

As reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal, aerospace contractor L3Harris has already been tasked with retrofitting the plane to comply with Air Force One-level requirements.