In May 2025, the nation of Qatar gave the Department of Defense a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to be remodeled into a new Air Force One.

President Donald Trump’s openness to accepting a luxury jet from Qatar triggered sharp criticism from legal experts, who cited potential violations of the Constitution’s foreign emoluments clause. Trump has defended the reported gift as “a gesture of good faith,

Schumer also called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify before Congress and answer a number of questions related to the potential gift.

The nation of Qatar offered the Trump administration a Boeing 747-8 for use as Air Force One. Trump called the plane a "gift," in a post on his social media site, Truth Social. A representative of the administration clarified that Qatar "has offered to donate a plane to the Department of Defense," not to Trump himself.

Trump’s plan to accept a $400 million plane from Qatar has ignited a full-blown firestorm among Democrats in Congress

Trump said accepting a luxury 747 from Qatar is a no-brainer. But critics say the plan threatens to turn a symbol of American power into a collection of legal and counterintelligence concerns.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and GOP firebrand senators are among those voicing discomfort with the deal.