Trump's Qatari 'flying palace' plan thrown into question after Eric Trump's latest remark
WASHINGTON, DC: Eric Trump has cast doubt on President Donald Trump's earlier promise that the $400 million Qatari-gifted Air Force One would be displayed at his future presidential library, saying the aircraft "is not the plan at the moment."
His comment marks a notable shift from Trump's own public statements and revives unanswered questions over what will ultimately happen to the luxury jet, which remains in the active Air Force fleet while continuing to draw scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers and ethics advocates.
Last year, the Qatari royal family gifted the lavish $400 million, 13-year-old Boeing 747-8 to the US Air Force to be used as the new Air Force One.
Eric Trump contradicts Trump's earlier library pledge
Eric Trump, who is involved in developing the Trump presidential library complex in Miami, told NBC News on Wednesday, August 5, in a text message that the Qatari aircraft "is not the plan at the moment" for the library.
Instead, he said a retired Air Force One would be displayed there, similar to the Boeing 707 exhibited at Ronald Reagan's presidential library.
The comment conflicts with Donald Trump's remarks from May 2025, when he told reporters the Qatari jet would go "directly to the library after I leave office."
That reversal leaves the aircraft's future unresolved. The plane remains part of the active Air Force fleet and was used by Trump as recently as July for travel to a NATO summit in Turkey, although he switched to another aircraft for the return trip because of security limitations.
Democrats press Pentagon over jet's future
The uncertainty has intensified concerns among Democratic lawmakers that Trump could ultimately retain personal use of the aircraft after leaving office.
Sen Chris Murphy questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a recent hearing but did not receive a firm commitment that Trump would not take possession of the jet.
Murphy and nine other Democratic senators have also introduced legislation aimed at keeping the aircraft in the US government fleet while directing a government watchdog to review the Qatari donation and any potential conflicts of interest.
The measure faces steep odds in the Republican-controlled Congress.
Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer, argued that transferring the aircraft to Trump's presidential library, which is a private entity, rather than keeping it in the Air Force fleet, could violate the Constitution's foreign emoluments clause, which prohibits officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval.
Painter said keeping the aircraft within the government's fleet "would likely avoid that problem."
White House avoids long-term commitment
Nicknamed the "flying palace" because of its lavish interior featuring a bedroom, chandelier, and lie-flat massage seats, the aircraft is intended to serve as a bridge plane until new Boeing 747s enter service, which are expected in 2028.
Trump has previously said the aircraft would receive security upgrades to be "maxed out" for presidential use.
A White House spokesman did not directly answer questions about the plane's long-term future, instead praising Trump's presidency and the planned presidential library.
Separately, watchdog groups, including Democracy Defenders Fund, have spent more than a year urging the Pentagon's inspector general to investigate the legality of the original Qatari gift, but have not received a response.
