Axios: Trump’s "gift from Qatar" would eclipse all foreign presents in US history

The $400 million jet that former President Donald Trump claims the Air Force will accept as a gift from Qatar would eclipse every other presidential gift from a foreign nation since 2001, by a factor of 100, according to an Axios analysis of State Department records.

This extraordinary claim, made by Trump in a mid-flight interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, has ignited significant controversy, particularly among conservative media figures who have typically supported the former president.

Trump described the Qatari jet, reportedly intended to replace the current Air Force One, as “much more impressive” and said that accepting the aircraft would elevate the image of the presidency. “We should have the most impressive plane,” he said, insisting that the jet would be “a gift to the United States, not me.” He added, “I get nothing. I get to fly it like any other president would,” and questioned why such a gift should be refused, stating, “We’re giving to everybody else.”

However, the constitutional and ethical implications of such an unprecedented offering have raised serious concerns. Under the U.S. Constitution, no person holding office in the federal government may accept a gift from a foreign head of state without explicit approval from Congress. While federal law permits officials to keep gifts under $480 in value, anything above that must be surrendered to the National Archives or accepted only with congressional authorisation.

Since the inauguration of George W. Bush in 2001, presidents have declared a total of just $3.8 million worth of foreign gifts, and none have approached the scale of what Trump claims is now on the table. The most expensive item recorded until now was a specially commissioned bronze sculpture of two horses, valued at about $500,000, presented to President Barack Obama by the Saudi royal family.

Lavish offerings from Gulf nations—especially Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar—have historically dominated the list of costly foreign gifts to U.S. leaders. However, these are usually symbolic gestures, such as artworks, jewellery, or antiques, and they are customarily handed over to the government rather than retained by the recipient.

Though first ladies and presidential family members also receive gifts, the Axios analysis excluded these and focused solely on those received by sitting presidents. The disparity between typical diplomatic tokens and the Qatar jet underscores the staggering nature of the offer.

Past presidential gifts have ranged from the whimsical to the practical. In 2011, Obama received a crocodile attack insurance policy from Australia during an official visit. It was later archived.

George W. Bush was given a puppy by Bulgaria’s president, which was ultimately adopted by another family.

Presidents Eisenhower and Reagan both received baby elephants from foreign dignitaries, with their animal gifts eventually finding homes at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

By Tamilla Hasanova