Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed doubts on Wednesday, May 14, regarding Qatar’s $400 million aircraft gift to President Donald Trump, aligning with critics questioning the arrangement.
“No one gives someone a $400 million dollar jet for free without expecting anything in return. Be serious,” Clinton wrote on X.
The gift has sparked debate in Washington, D.C., as President Trump visited the Middle East this week. The Boeing 747-8 aircraft, described as a “palace in the sky,” is intended to be used as a temporary Air Force One and later donated to Trump’s presidential library.
Concerns over potential ethical issues and security risks have been raised by lawmakers from both parties. Republican senators, including Ted Cruz of Texas and John Thune of South Dakota, have voiced reservations, with Cruz highlighting espionage and surveillance concerns.
President Trump defended the arrangement during his Middle East tour, stating it would be foolish to decline such a gift. “I could be a stupid person and say, ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane,’ but I thought it was a great gesture,” Trump told reporters on Monday, May 12.
Trump has voiced frustration over delays in the delivery of upgraded Air Force One jets from Boeing, which were originally expected in 2024 but are now delayed until 2027. The current presidential aircraft is approximately 40 years old.
The White House stated that the gift, valued between $250 million and $400 million, is intended for the Department of Defense rather than Trump personally. Officials emphasized the arrangement’s transparency and legal compliance.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani rejected claims of influence-buying, describing the controversy as exaggerated and politically motivated during a Fox News interview with Bret Baier.
Al Thani dismissed the notion of political favors, stating the agreement was a “government-to-government dealing” as reported in the interview.
Ethics experts have expressed concerns about the gift’s unprecedented nature. Richard Briffault, a Columbia Law School professor, described it as a “textbook case of a violation of the Emoluments Clause” of the Constitution.
The organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has raised ethical concerns, with communications vice president Jordan Libowitz highlighting Trump’s business dealings in the Gulf as particularly concerning.
Security experts have questioned the feasibility of using the Qatari aircraft as Air Force One, noting that extensive modifications would be required, costing hundreds of millions of dollars and taking up to two years to complete.
Democratic lawmakers have been critical of the arrangement. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has threatened to block Trump’s Justice Department nominees pending more information.
House Democrats, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, have initiated an investigation, suggesting the arrangement may violate the Constitution’s gift ban from foreign governments.
This controversy arises during Trump’s Middle East tour, where deals such as Qatar Airways‘ agreement to purchase 210 American-made Boeing aircraft valued at $96 billion have been made.
The U.S.-Qatar relationship has evolved since Trump’s first term when he accused Qatar of funding terrorism. Qatar now hosts a major U.S. military base and is a major non-NATO ally.
Legal experts are divided on the arrangement’s constitutional implications. Some argue it is permissible since the plane is gifted to the Defense Department, while others see issues due to its eventual transfer to Trump’s library.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who previously lobbied for Qatar, reportedly approved a Justice Department memo supporting the arrangement’s legality, raising conflict of interest concerns.
