Trump reportedly toured Qatar gift plane at PBIA in February. When will it come back?

Yahoo

19-05-2025

It's been here once already, but will the controversial $400 million luxe plane the Qatari government aims to gift President Donald Trump come back to Palm Beach International Airport?
Media reports say Trump toured the plane at PBIA in February during a stay at Mar-a-Lago, where he visited four times and spent 12 days during that month.
The gift of the plane, dubbed the "flying palace" for its opulence, has been a source of debate during the president's travels through the Middle East in May.
Disagreements between the president, his critics and even MAGA supporters have lorded over the trip and its significant achievements, including the announcement of "very serious" talks with Iran, recognition of the Syrian regime and a proposed $600 billion investment by Saudi Arabia in the United States.
Here are five things to know.
Where Trump would keep the plane is an unknown. The proposal is for the president to use the plane while in office after a retrofit by U.S. authorities.
Palm Beach County residents would see the plane at PBIA, off Southern Boulevard at the Atlantic Aviation location, where existing U.S. airliners that serve as Air Force One are parked when the president visits. Trump is not expected to visit Palm Beach again until the fall, however.
The offer of the aircraft has sparked serious pushback against the president, even from Make American Great Again allies.
Social-media influencers and commentators Ben Shapiro and Laura Loomer, who has had the president's ear as of late, have come out against acceptance of the plane. National and presidential security experts have also raised significant concerns about secrecy in having the president fly on an aircraft produced and furnished by another country.
The Democratic National Committee said it flew a banner over Mar-a-Lago on May 14 that read "Qatar-a-Lago."
"Today, the DNC is highlighting what foreign autocracies around the world already know: Trump has no loyalty to the American people, national security, or the Constitution — his only allegiance is to his bank account and his billionaire buddies," DNC Chair Ken Martin wrote in a statement.
Ethics watchdogs say the offer violates the emoluments provision in Article I of the U.S. Constitution.
That clause does not allow holders of federal offices to accept gifts, emoluments, offices, or titles from foreign governments without approval from Congress.
In a May 13 post on his social-media platform, Trump insisted the aircraft, a Boeing 747, is to be given to the "United States Air Force/Department of Defense" and not to him.
"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," he wrote.
"Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done. This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country."
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [e-mail]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Will we see President Trump at Palm Beach International in Qatar plane?