Fact Check: Did Bill Clinton receive $17 million helicopter from Saudi Arabia as president?
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump confirmed on Truth Social earlier this week that his administration plans to accept a $400 million luxury jet from the Qatari royal family, that the POTUS intends to use as Air Force One.
Trump also defended the move on Monday, May 12, and insisted that only a "stupid person" would "turn down that kind of an offer".
Following this, a rumor circulated online claiming that former President Bill Clinton received a $17 million helicopter as a "parting gift" from Saudi Arabia at the end of his presidency. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.
Claim: Bill Clinton received $17M helicopter from Saudi Arabia at the end of his presidency
In mid-May 2025, a meme claimed former President Bill Clinton received a $17 million helicopter from Saudi Arabia at the end of his presidential term and continues to use it.
The meme became viral after reports emerged that Qatar offered President Donald Trump's administration a Boeing 747-8 for use as Air Force One.
The meme read, "This is the $17 million helicopter the Saudis gave Bill Clinton to use in their airspace. They gave it to him as a parting gift when he left office. He still uses it to this day. Not one single Democrat had anything to say."
The Facebook post's caption read, "They can cry all they want. Trump isn't breaking any rules that haven't always been broken."
The post has so far received more than 3,600 shares and around 1,000 comments.
This is the $17 million helicopter the Saudis gave Bill Clinton to use in their airspace.
— Joe_S_Pure🩸 (@Joe_S_Pure) May 14, 2025
They gave it to him as a parting gift when he left office. He still uses it to this day.
Not one single Democrat had anything to say. pic.twitter.com/iidgjQC9fq
An X user shared the same photo of the helicopter and wrote in the caption, "This is the $17 million helicopter the Saudis gave Bill Clinton to use in their airspace. They gave it to him as a parting gift when he left office. He still uses it to this day. Not one single Democrat had anything to say."
False: No credible evidence that Bill Clinton received helicopter worth $17M from Saudi Arabia
The claims made in the online rumor are false, as there is no evidence of Clinton ever receiving such a gift from the Saudis, according to Snopes.
Moreover, the rumor about Clinton being given the helicopter came from the Facebook page America's Last Line of Defense, an account affiliated with satire news site The Dunning-Kruger Times, per the fact-checking outlet.
The Facebook page is known for fabricating stories for shares and comments.
Furthermore, the meme post has a "Satire" label on the bottom left. The Facebook page's Introduction section also states, "The flagship of the ALLOD network of trollery and propaganda for cash. Nothing on this page is real."
Additionally, The Dunning-Kruger Times 'About us' page mentions, "Everything on this website is fiction. It is not a lie and it is not fake news because it is not real. If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined."
It adds, "Any similarities between this site's pure fantasy and actual people, places, and events are purely coincidental and all images should be considered altered and satirical. See above if you're still having an issue with that satire thing."
Experts take on Trump accepting gift of Qatari plane
Many experts shared their views on Trump accepting the jumbo jet from the Qatari royal family.
Some experts believe Trump's intended plan to accept the Qatari government's proposed gift of a luxury plane violates the Constitution, per ABC News.
Sen Chris Murphy of Connecticut argued on the Senate floor, "This is spelled out as blatantly unconstitutional by our founding fathers. The founding fathers knew it was evil for members of Congress or the president to accept gifts from a foreign government."
Notably, under the Foreign Emoluments Clause of Article I that governs the president, "No Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept ... any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."
Meanwhile, Dan Weiner, director of the elections and government program Brennan Center for Justice, said it is imperative for the administration to nail down the specifics of the arrangement, per the outlet.
"It's a different story if he uses the jet when he's president and then it goes to some museum that he has some control over," Weiner told the outlet.
Trump and the Justice Department have claimed that the $400 million plane would be retrofitted to use as Air Force One for the remainder of his term, ABC News reported.
Moreover, Trump said in a social media post, "It is a gift from a Nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years. It will be used by our Government as a temporary Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeings, which are very late on delivery, arrive."
