Air Force One gift would smash presidential records
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The $400 million jet that President Trump says the Air Force plans to accept from Qatar would be worth 100 times more than every other presidential gift from a foreign nation combined since 2001, according to an Axios analysis of State Department data.
Why it matters: The prospect of such a lavish gift from the Qatari royal family raised major ethics concerns and sparked rare backlash from a set of influential MAGA media stars.
By the numbers: Presidents reported a mere $3.8 million worth of gifts from foreign countries between George W. Bush's inauguration and 2023 — the most recent year data was available.
- Until now, the biggest gift has been a "hand-made and specially commissioned bronze sculpture depicting two horses" given to President Obama from Saudi Arabia, estimated to be worth roughly $500,000.
- Gulf nations — including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain — account for a stunning share of the most lavish and expensive gifts offered to American leaders.
- Axios' analysis excluded gifts reported by first ladies and other members of presidential families.
Zoom in: In a mid-flight interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that aired Tuesday, Trump said the current Air Force One plane is "much smaller" and "much less impressive," adding that "we should have the most impressive plane."
- The president argued the plane would be a gift to the U.S., not him personally. "I get nothing, I get to fly it like any other president would."
- "My attitude is, why wouldn't I accept a gift? We're giving to everybody else," he told Hannity.
State of play: The Constitution prohibits anyone in the U.S. government from receiving a personal gift from a foreign head of state without the consent of Congress.
- Congress has allowed presidents and all federal employees to keep gifts from a foreign government as long as they don't exceed $480.
- Presents valued over that amount may be accepted, but they must be turned over to the National Archives.
The big picture: U.S. presidents have been presented with gifts ranging from books to paintings to antiques to diamonds, and even animals, from foreign countries.
- Obama received a crocodile attack insurance policy during an official visit to Australia in 2011. The framed policy was later transferred to the National Archives.
- President George W. Bush was gifted a puppy by Bulgaria's president. The pup was placed with another family.
- Presidents Eisenhower and Reagan both received baby elephants. Eisenhower's Dzimbo made his permanent home at the National Zoo, as did Reagan's Jayathu.
Editor's note: This story was corrected to note that presidents reported $3.8 million in gifts between 2001 and 2023 (not 2024).
Go deeper: Trump says it would be "stupid" not to accept free jet from Qatar
