Trump Faces Obstacles Keeping $400 Million Qatari Air Force One for Presidential Library
Updated
Updated · The Independent · Jul 5
Trump Faces Obstacles Keeping $400 Million Qatari Air Force One for Presidential Library
3 articles · Updated · The Independent · Jul 5
Summary
$400 million is at the center of Trump’s post-presidency plan: he wants the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8 transferred to his presidential library, but congressional and logistical hurdles could block it.
Democrats have already tried to stop that transfer, with a June House amendment and an earlier Senate push against foreign aircraft serving as Air Force One; both failed under Republican control, but a midterm House flip could revive the effort.
Joe Courtney’s office told the Wall Street Journal it will keep working to ensure the jet remains U.S. government property, extending ethical scrutiny that has also drawn skepticism from some Republicans.
The aircraft is now flying under a temporary bridge program until two new Boeing presidential planes are due in 2028, and Trump took its maiden Air Force One trip this past week to South Dakota.
Getting the jet into a Miami library tower may be harder still: Trump has acknowledged it would be “a trick,” and the Reagan library had to disassemble and haul a retired Air Force One more than 100 miles before reassembling it.