U.S. President Donald Trump and Amir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani met in Doha, Qatar on May 14, 2025.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
Qatar's prime minister denied Tuesday the charges Doha made an estimated $400 million Boeing 747 jet to U.S. President Donald Trump, which is support for the White House administration.
"I call it exchanges between the two countries. Basically, our relationship between Qatar and the United States is a very institutional relationship," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrrahman al-Thani. "The story of the aircraft is the Ministry of Defense, which is basically completely transparent and legally very legal, and is part of the collaboration we have been doing together for decades."
Trump, who stopped in Saudi Arabia last week in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, has been criticized by opposition politicians at home after Doha made a jet gift. Qatar also agreed to order 210 US-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777x aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines, which the White House calls the "largest" widebody and 787 orders, the main defense contractor of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Al-Thani stressed on Tuesday that the gesture was "a normal thing that happened between allies" and dismissed allegations that Qatar may be seeking "to buy influence with this government."
"It's a two-way relationship. It's mutually beneficial for Qatar and the United States. We're not doing anything under the table." "Many countries have a lot of things for the United States. I'm not comparing it to the Statue of Liberty, but…"
Trump said in a "Truth Social Media Post" last week that the potentially talented aircraft will "temporarily" replace a 40-year-old Air Force aircraft that normally serves the U.S. president. He said separately that the plane will later join the future Presidential Library Foundation, according to the Associated Press. Boeing is currently producing an Air Force aircraft One, which has been delayed along with other delivery in the company's suppliers and parts barriers
Democrats have slammed the Qataris for improving broader moral and security issues. Under the Foreign Emer’s clause, the U.S. Constitution says: “No one shall accept any existing, em, office or ownership without Congress’ consent, and any one shall accept any king, prince or any person from a foreign country.”
Several Democrats have submitted a resolution in the House calling on Trump to submit all giant jet donations to Congress under foreign Ayre.
Jamie Raskin, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said: “The Constitution accuses Congress of ensuring that the president does not use the highest position on the land as a wealthy plan to make the luxury gifts of foreign presidents, dictators and emirs.
D-Conn. "This is the definition of corruption," Senator Chris Murphy told NBC's "Meet the Media" on Sunday.
Trump defended Qatar's "very good gesture" as a contribution from the Ministry of Defense, while Boeing built additional aircraft instead of as a personal gift.
"They give us free planes. I can say, 'No, no, no, don't give us, I want to pay you a billion or $400 million or anything, or I can say, 'Thank you so much,'" he said last week in a separate exchange, "I can say that I'm a stupid person, I don't want an expensive plane, but I want to be a great plane, I want to be a great Geist."