President Donald Trump is reportedly in the process of acquiring a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet from the royal family of Qatar, which he plans to use as Air Force One. This information has been confirmed by four sources familiar with the planning, as reported by NBC News. The sophisticated aircraft, which is set to be transferred to Trump’s presidential library foundation after the end of his second term, will be retrofitted to suit his official capacity as president. The acceptance of such a lavish gift has sparked discussions among legal scholars and experts regarding its legality. The plane is valued at approximately $400 million based on data from 2019, the most recent year for which such figures are available. Despite the potential legal concerns, neither the White House nor the Department of Justice has responded to requests for comment from CNBC. ABC News was the first to report on these plans. This development coincides with Trump’s upcoming trip to the Middle East, including a visit to Qatar, marking his first foreign journey in his second term. During his first term, Trump had negotiated a deal to modernize two Boeing 747s to serve as the new Air Force One aircraft. However, the fixed-price contract with Boeing has exceeded its budget by over $2 billion due to repeated delays, and the completion of these planes is now anticipated to be no earlier than 2027. Trump has expressed his frustration over these delays, indicating that he is considering alternatives. In February, he mentioned the possibility of acquiring a different plane while touring a Qatari 747 at Florida’s Palm Beach International Airport, as reported by Reuters. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has stated that the company is collaborating with Elon Musk, a key Trump ally, to expedite the delivery of the planes. Additionally, CNBC reported earlier this month that the U.S. government is working with L3Harris Technologies to modify a used Qatari Boeing 747, which could potentially become a new U.S. presidential plane. This move has drawn attention not only due to its high cost and the legal questions it raises but also because it highlights the ongoing issues with the current Air Force One replacement project. The existing project has faced significant budget overruns and delays, leading to the consideration of alternative solutions. NBC News contributed additional reporting on this matter. For those with confidential news tips, CNBC encourages reaching out to them. Additionally, CNBC offers free newsletters for those interested in receiving more updates directly in their inbox. In related information, CNBC, a division of NBCUniversal, provides global business and financial news, stock quotes, and market data analysis. They also offer data snapshots that are delayed by at least 15 minutes. The organization aims to enhance its online experience by collaborating with certain ad partners who might combine personal information with data across different businesses for targeted advertising, as outlined in their Privacy Policy. For residents of certain states, NBCUniversal’s Privacy Policy provides options to opt out of the sale or sharing/processing of personal information for targeted advertising. This includes managing cookie and device identifier preferences on specific websites or apps. Users are advised to renew these choices if they clear their cookies or change settings for precise geolocation permissions on mobile devices. For those wishing to opt out of using their email and related personal information for targeted advertising, NBCUniversal provides an Opt-Out Form. Essential cookies required for service functionality, such as security and fraud prevention, can be blocked via browser settings, although this may affect site functionality.