Trump answers ‘flying palace’ bribery hype; DOJ calls it ‘legal, not bribery, no violation of emoluments clause’

As the left seeks to stir up scandals, conservatives are voicing their own concerns ahead of the president’s expected acceptance of a “flying palace.”

During his first administration, President Donald Trump reached a deal with Boeing for the completion of two new Air Force One planes that have since been plagued by delays. Now, as the royal family of Qatar offers a solution in the interim, corporate media and Democratic Party politicians are selling the arrangement as “bribery.”

Following a report from ABC News’ Jonathan Karl and Katherine Faulders about the arrangement to get Trump traveling on a Qatari Boeing 747-8 deemed a “palace in the sky” by next year, Sens. Chuck Schumer (NY) and Adam Schiff (CA) are rolling out a new round of talking points.

The Senate Minority Leader posted to X, “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom,” while Schiff attempts to use the Constitution to assert, “Seems pretty clear that a $400 million ‘air palace’ from a foreign emir qualifies. The corruption is brazen.”

Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom. pic.twitter.com/oBqgHbikHf

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 11, 2025

Article I, Section 9, Clause 8:

“no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”

Seems pretty clear that a…

— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) May 11, 2025

Within the report, ABC News stated, “In what may be the most valuable gift ever extended to the United States from a foreign government, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar — a gift that is to be available for use by President Donald Trump as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which time ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation, sources familiar with the proposed arrangement told ABC News.”

It went on to suggest that, rather than confirming the legality of the gift, attorneys with the White House counsel’s office and Department of Justice have been “anticipating” such questions and submitted an analysis to the Department of Defense in support of acceptance as its use is conditioned on the transfer to the presidential library.

“President Trump is poised to accept a luxury jet as a gift from Qatar,” wrote Karl on X. “It’s to be used as Air Force One and then transferred to the Trump library by January 2029. Perhaps the biggest foreign gift ever. DOJ insists it’s legal, not bribery, not violation of emoluments clause.”

To that, legal analyst Phil Holloway argued, “Fake News … Boeing is so far behind schedule with the new Air Force One ordered years ago that Trump asked a Florida Defense contractor called L3Harris to overhaul a 747 once used by the Qatari government.”

Fake News

Boeing is so far behind schedule with the new Air Force One ordered years ago that Trump asked a Florida Defense contractor called L3Harris to overhaul a 747 once used by the Qatari government https://t.co/I7Hljtglul

— Phil Holloway ✈️ (@PhilHollowayEsq) May 11, 2025

Likewise, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told ABC News, “Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws.”

“President Trump’s Administration is committed to full transparency,” she added as the White House made clear, “the gift is not conditioned on any official act.”

For his part, the president took aim at the hysteria, which was noticeably absent during investigations of then-President Joe Biden’s alleged foreign influence-peddling, and wrote on Truth Social, “So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA.”

While Trump initially contracted Boeing to get the new planes ready by 2021, ahead of a 2024 target, the soonest the company expected completion after working with Elon Musk was 2027 — still two years faster than a 2029 date.

Of course, conservatives have their own reasons to be leery of the president receiving such generosity from the Middle East, particularly over Qatar’s connections to terrorists and antisemitic groups.

Syndicated radio host Mark Levin, who has been appointed to Trump’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, was among those speaking out as he posted on X, “There are news reports that Qatar is buying us a jet. Who knows. But Qatar must stop buying our colleges and universities and spreading their anti-American, Jew-hating propaganda and funding terrorist groups and front groups. Their jet and all the other things they are buying in our country does not provide them with the cover they seek. It is a terror state. That is beyond dispute or their bank accounts.”

There are news reports that Qatar is buying us a jet. Who knows. But Qatar must stop buying our colleges and universities and spreading their anti-American, Jew-hating propaganda and funding terrorist groups and front groups. Their jet and all the other things they are buying…

— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) May 11, 2025

The Qatari government is not our friend, cooperates with Iran and its proxies, and funds terrorism and pro-terror propaganda around the world.

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) May 11, 2025

The Saudis are warning us about Qatar. Maybe we should listen. pic.twitter.com/gQLDlhDiPj

— Marina Medvin (@MarinaMedvin) May 11, 2025

The only gift we should be accepting from Qatar is the gift of them no longer harboring and enabling terrorists. https://t.co/v2M9ASsIcf

— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) May 11, 2025

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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