A $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8, dubbed a “flying palace,” has become the latest flashpoint in a growing debate about diplomatic gifts, presidential ethics, and the delicate line between statecraft and personal gain. Qatar’s proposed donation of the jet to the US government has drawn fire from lawmakers in Washington, even as Doha insists the transaction is nothing more than a “very clear” act of diplomacy between two allied nations.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani addressed the controversy in an exclusive interview with CNN on May 14, during a visit by President Donald Trump to Qatar as part of his Middle East tour. Al-Thani rejected suggestions that the gesture was aimed at currying favor with the Trump administration, framing the move as an expression of Qatar’s enduring partnership with the United States.

“This is a very clear exchange that’s happening between two governments,” Al-Thani told CNN. “It has nothing to do with personnel… I don’t see any controversy.”

Despite the Qatari prime minister’s assurances, critics in the US remain skeptical. Some Democratic lawmakers have accused Donald Trump of potentially exploiting his position to solicit gifts from foreign governments, pointing to the optics of a $400 million aircraft being transferred during a personal visit to Doha.

“There’s an enormous difference between diplomatic cooperation and blatant indulgence,” said Rep. Jamie........

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