Qatari officials said the plane was being given by the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon but Trump said the Boeing 747-8 jet will be used as Air Force One—the official presidential plane and according to multiple reports, after he leaves office, it will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation.

"Can't beat free," one Republican senator said of the president's plan to accept the luxury gift from the monarchy of Qatar.

The president sought to cast the transaction as a win for U.S. taxpayers amid mounting criticism from his allies.