President Donald Trump’s acceptance of a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet from the government of Qatar has triggered bipartisan concern, constitutional scrutiny—and a dramatic confrontation in the White House press room.
Earlier this month, the Department of Defense announced that the U.S. had accepted a Boeing 747 aircraft donated by Qatar for use as an interim Air Force One, citing delays in the delivery of new presidential planes. Trump and his allies claimed the plane was a “strategic gift” to the U.S. government and denied it conferred any personal benefit to the president.
However, reporting from CNN, ABC News, and New York Magazine reveals that Trump’s team, not Qatar, initiated discussions about acquiring the aircraft as a temporary replacement. The effort was led by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and reportedly evolved from talks about leasing the jet to an outright donation.
Legal experts have flagged possible violations of the Emoluments Clause, which prohibits U.S. officials from accepting gifts or payments from foreign governments without congressional approval. While the Pentagon maintains the aircraft was accepted on behalf of the government—not Trump personally—critics argue its use by the president constitutes a direct ethical conflict.
The controversy erupted publicly during press briefing in the White House following Trump’s meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
As Trump prepared to take questions, an NBC News reporter asked:
“Mr. President, the Pentagon announced it will accept the Qatari plane for use as Air Force One—”
Trump interrupted with visible anger:
“What are you talking about? You know what, you should leave. Get out. Out.”
The moment, captured on live feed and later widely circulated, stunned many in the press corps. Trump’s tone escalated as he continued to berate the reporter:
“You’re fake news. You’re not serious. You don’t belong here.”
The White House later issued a statement defending the president’s response, claiming the reporter was “grandstanding with a political question during a diplomatic event.”
The incident deepened the controversy around the jet, shifting the focus from ethics to freedom of the press. The White House Correspondents’ Association condemned the outburst, stating, “No journalist should be removed or silenced for asking a relevant, factual question on matters of public interest.”
Meanwhile, House Oversight Committee members have requested a full accounting of how the plane was obtained, including communications between U.S. officials and Qatari representatives.
The aircraft, according to the Department of Defense, will undergo extensive retrofitting to meet national security and communications standards. It is expected to be operational in late 2025 and serve as a stopgap until the long-delayed next-generation Air Force One is delivered.
Until then, the debate over the jet—and what it represents—continues to take flight.
