Trump clarifies ownership of aircraft in defense of Qatar's gift

The Boeing offered to the United States by Qatar will be given to the Department of Defense President Donald Trump explained Tuesday responding to questions about the legality of accepting a gift from a foreign power Qatar's royal family offered to donate a million jumbo jet that could serve as Air Force One The White House has pushed back against criticism of Trump saying any gift from a foreign power is reliably accepted in full compliance with all laws TRUMP TEASES 'VERY VERY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT' AHEAD OF MIDDLE EAST TRIP CARNEY SAYS HE'S 'ON EDGE OF MY SEAT' The Boeing is being given to the United States Air Force Department of Defense NOT TO ME Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform in the middle of his visit to Saudi Arabia It is a gift from a Nation Qatar that we have successfully defended for several years It will be used by our Establishment as a temporary Air Force One until such time as our new Boeings which are very late on delivery arrive Specific Democrats have called for an ethics research over the gift On Sunday Rep Ritchie Torres D-N Y wrote to the Administration Accountability Office deriding the deal as a flying grift arguing it violates the emoluments clause of the U S Constitution which explicitly prohibits any person holding society office from accepting any present Emolument Office or Title of any kind whatever from any King Prince or foreign State ' HOUSE DEMOCRAT CALLS FOR 'IMMEDIATE' ETHICS PROBE OF QATARI PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP I am writing to express alarm over reports that President Donald Trump is poised to accept a luxury aircraft a Boeing - from the authorities of Qatar The plane so opulent it has been described as a palace in the sky is set to be made available to President Trump for official use as Air Force One and then for private use once he leaves office Torres wrote Trump questioned why taxpayers should foot the bill for the aircraft when the U S can get one at no cost This big savings will be spent instead to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN Trump wrote Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country Thank you for your attention to this matter Trump reportedly toured the plane in February when it was on the tarmac of the West Palm Beach Airport in Florida ABC News informed over the weekend The gift has reportedly been tied up with legal reviews as the White House counsel's office and the Department of Justice review the legality of the president accepting such a pricey gift from a foreign nation The current Air Force One fleet includes two planes and Trump awarded Boeing a billion contract in during his first term to manufacture two new jets The construction of the jets however is not expected to be completed until Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom contributed to this assessment