Regarding Airplane Prizes From Qatar, President Trump: I Really Appreciate It

JAKARTA - United States President Donald Trump dismissed ethical concerns about his plans to accept the plane as a gift from the Qatari Royal family, saying on Monday it would be "stupid" if he turned down the generous offer.

The luxury 400 million plane, which will be equipped to serve as Air Force One (US presidential plane), will be one of the most valuable gifts the US Government has ever received.

News of the offer immediately drew criticism from the Democratic Party and supporters of a good government, warning it was a conflict of interest that could affect the president's decision.

President Trump said Boeing 747-8 aircraft would eventually be donated to his presidential library - a storage area that stores research material from his government - and he did not plan to use it for personal reasons after leaving office.

"I think that's a great signal from Qatar. I really appreciate it. I would never turn down such an offer," President Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for a trip to the Middle East.

"I mean, I could be a stupid person who said, 'No, we don't want very expensive and free airplanes,'" said President Trump.

The Republican president linked the offer with gratitude for the US assistance in defending countries in the region including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, all of which are a stopover to his travel plans this week.

President Trump also said accepting the offer was a practical decision, and he was disappointed that Boeing took a long time to ship the new Air Force One aircraft he ordered during his first term as president.

Separately, critics said the offer was unethical and most likely unconstitutional.

Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, Chris Murphy, Cory Booker and Chris Coons said in a statement that President Trump's acceptance of the prize would create a clear conflict of interest, raise serious national security questions, and invite foreign influence.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Joe Courtney of Connecticut, a senior Democrat member at the House's Subcommittee for Maritime Power and Projection Strength, said it would distract from the Air Force's efforts to accelerate the delivery of the true Air Force One fleet.

White House spokesman Krypto Leavitt said legal details surrounding donations to the Department of Defense were still being worked on, with the Trump Administration not worried about what Qatar might ask for in return.

Quoted from Politico, Qatari officials said that the aircraft was still being finalized and no decision had been made.

ABC News reported on Sunday that the Boeing 747-8 aircraft will be available to President Donald Trump as Air Force One and then donated to the presidential library foundation so he can use it after leaving office.

But Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar's Attache Media to the US, told Politico the report was "inaccurate," and showed the donation, at least, had not yet been finalized.

"The possibility of aircraft transfers for temporary use as Air Force One is currently being considered between the Qatari Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, but this issue is still under review by their respective legal departments, and no decision has yet been made," he said.

The aircraft in question is worth $400 million, ABC News reports, and will be announced during President Trump's visit to the Middle East this week.