Can President Trump accept a luxury plane of $ 400 million?

US President Donald Trump has said that his administration wants to accept an aircraft worth an estimated $ 400 million (£ 303 million) as a gift from Qatar and calls it “a great gesture” that he would be “stupid” to reject.

The potential step has been labeled ‘wild illegally’ by some members of the rival Democratic party – something that the White House denies – and it has attracted criticism of some of Trump’s supporters.

Qatar itself said earlier that the reports on the plane were “inaccurate”, and that the negotiations continued.

The news comes when Trump visits different countries in the East, including Qatar.

BBC Verify has been investigated for the legality of presidents who accept gifts.

On Sunday, US Media reported that the Trump government was preparing for accepting a Boeing Jumbo Jet from the Royal Family Qatari -saying that the plane would be recovered and temporarily used as Air Force One, the name for the plane used by presidents.

Trump later Posted on Truth Social: “The Ministry of Defense receives a free gift from a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction.”

When reporters interview, Trump said: “It is a great gesture from Qatar. I appreciate it very much. I would never be anyone to reject such offers.”

In February Trump said that he was “not happy with Boeing” about delays in two new Air Force One -Jets that he expects to receive directly from the company. He added that instead the White House could “buy an airplane or get an airplane, or something”.

The Qatari plane was depicted in February in Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump inspected it. It is currently equipped with three bedrooms, a private lounge and an office, according to the specification -comprehensive document from 2015.

A Qatari officer CNN told The aircraft is given of the Defense Qatari Ministerie to the Pentagon and that it will be adjusted to meet the safety and security standards of Air Force.

Experts say that this will probably take years, which means that the aircraft may not be ready for use until the end of Trump’s period.

Trump has said that the plane will go directly to his presidential library after he has left his office, and that he “would not use it” after his presidency.

Nevertheless, the move has led to criticism from Democrats and some old Trump supporters, including Laura Loomer who said: “This will really be such a spot on the admin if this is true.”

Several senior democrats have claimed that accepting the gift would be illegal.

Democratic Senator Adam Schiff Part of the American constitution quoted That was not what the chosen official said “any present … of any kind” of the leader of a foreign state could accept without approval of the congress.

Frank Cogliano, a professor in American history at the University of Edinburgh, says that this clause was “intended to prevent bribery to influence the government”.

“It certainly extends the constitution and we have not seen a gift on this scale, or of this nature,” says Professor Andrew Moran, an expert of constitutional right to London Metropolitan University.

A number of other laws have been adopted by the congress with regard to the acceptance of foreign gifts, such as the foreign gifts and decorations Act of 1966, which means that congress state is needed for the acceptance of foreign gifts above a certain value.

Currently, American officials can Accept gifts with a value of less than $ 480 (£ 363).

Although Trump has referred to the plane that eventually goes to his “library”, experts have suggested that he really means his Museum Foundation.

Ex -presidents usually have a library with their archive of documents, and a museum – usually funded by private donations – full of memorabilia and open to the public.

Experts who verify BBC spoke with the fact that the aircraft could be given to the administration – and not directly to the president – before he was taken to his museum, not to bypass the possible violation of the Constitution.

Jordan ALBOWITZ – From the Organization Burgers for responsibility and ethics in Washington – said that any use of the aircraft would exceed a line after leaving the office: “Reagan’s Air Force One ended up in his presidential library, but there is a difference there.

The US Department of Justice has reportedly drawn up a memo in which it is explained why it would be allowed to accept the jet, although this was not made public.

When the Pers Secretary of the White House, Karoline Leavitt, was asked about the legality of the deal, she said: “The legal details are still being worked out, but of course every donation is always made to this government in full compliance with the law.”

President Trump is on a four-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the VAE, hoping to add the investments for the US.

His visit follows a series of business deals announced by the Trump organization, which is run by the sons of the president, Eric and Donald Jr.

These include plans to build golf courses and luxury villas in Qatar and the VAE.

President Trump is currently not affiliated with the Trump organization, after he has transferred the management manager to his children after entering the White House on January 20.

Was a deal announced by the Trump organization At the beginning of May to develop a luxury 18-hole golf course from Trump and a collection of luxury villas north of the capital of Qatar, Doha.

At the time, Eric Trump said: “We are incredibly proud of expanding the Trump brand to Qatar through this exceptional collaboration with Qatari Diar and Dar Global.”

DAR Global is a public Saudi building company; Qatari Diar is a company in Qatari State.

Separately, on April 30, The Trump organization has announced It would build “the first Trump International Hotel & Tower” from the region in the “Hart van Dubai” consisting of 80 floors of “Luxury Living and Hospitality of World Class”.

Eric Trump recently also visited the VAE, Speak on Token 2049A cryptocurrency conference, on 1 May.

Asked if Trump would probably meet during his trip at the family business, said Minister of Witte Huis, Karoline Leavitt, that it was “ridiculous” to suggest that the president did something for his own advantage.