US accepts Qatar plane for 'Air Force One'

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted an offer of a Boeing 747 from Qatar for President Donald Trump to use as "Air Force One", the Pentagon said on Wednesday, brushing aside accusations of corruption from the Democratic opposition .

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the plane was accepted “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations” and that the department “will work to ensure appropriate security measures” on the aircraft to make it safe for use by the president.

The donation, valued at $400 million (€357 million) and intended to temporarily replace Air Force One, comes from the royal family that runs the Gulf emirate.

The United States Constitution prohibits employees from accepting gifts “from a King, Prince, or foreign State.”

In addition to legal and ethical issues, the use of a plane donated by a foreign power also raises serious security concerns: Air Force One was designed to serve as a mobile command center for the President in the event of an attack on the United States.

Confronted by a journalist at the White House on Wednesday about Qatar's offer, Trump became visibly irritated, stressed that the recipient would be the Air Force and justified it with delays by manufacturer Boeing in providing a new plane for presidential use.

When the NBC journalist insisted, Trump insulted him, calling him a “terrible journalist”, “idiot” and “a disgrace”, forbidding him from asking any more questions and even suggesting that his editors should “be investigated”.

On Monday, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer proposed legislation that would prevent Donald Trump from using this Boeing as his presidential plane .

Specifically, it would prohibit the Department of Defense from using U.S. taxpayer money to convert any aircraft previously owned by a foreign government into a presidential plane.

However, Democrats do not have a majority in Congress and Republican lawmakers have not voiced opposition to Qatar's offer .

Last week, Schumer called the Middle Eastern kingdom's offer "pure corruption and a grave threat to national security," announcing that he would block confirmation of the president's Justice Department nominations.

In the United States, the Constitution requires that appointments of cabinet ministers and other high-ranking government officials be confirmed by the Senate.

Although Democrats are in the minority in the Senate, they have legislative means to slow down the process considerably.

Following the announcement of the Qatari gift , Schumer called on a specialized unit of the Department of Justice to “do the work and disclose all activities of Qatari foreign agents in the United States that could benefit President Trump or the Trump Organization,” the Republican billionaire’s family holding company.

Trump has staunchly defended his decision to accept a Boeing 747-8 offered by Qatar, calling it a “nice gesture” and insisting it would be “stupid” to refuse.

When asked by a journalist, Trump assured that he would not use the plane for personal purposes after the end of his term, as reported by ABC News .

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The US broadcaster said White House and Justice Department lawyers had prepared an analysis, which they had given to the defense secretary, concluding that it was legal for the Defense Department to accept the plane and then turn it over to Trump's presidential collection when he leaves office in 2029, which would allow him to continue using it as a private citizen.

This could be the most expensive item ever donated to the US government.

The Trump Organization, Donald Trump's business conglomerate, announced in late April that it will begin developing its first real estate project in Qatar, with the construction of a golf club and villas in the coastal area of ​​Simaisma, in the capital, Doha.

Trump last week made an official trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, his first abroad since taking office at the end of January.