The Trump administration plans to accept a luxurious Boeing 747-8 aircraft as a gift from the Qatari royal family, which will be upgraded for use as Air Force One, making it one of the largest foreign gifts ever received by the US government, reported The New York Times several American officials familiar with the matter. This plan raises serious ethical questions, considering the enormous cost of the luxuriously equipped aircraft and the fact that Trump intends to take ownership of it after leaving office. According to two senior officials, the plane will be donated to President Trump's presidential library when he leaves office.
Meanwhile, Qatari government spokesman Ali al-Ansari stated that “the possible transfer of the aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently being considered by the Qatari Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, but this issue is under review by the relevant legal departments, and no decision has been made.”
Trump confirmed his intentions to accept the plane in his social media post on Sunday evening, after a day of controversy during which even some Republicans privately questioned the wisdom of this plan. Once again, the Democrats were blamed, who questioned the actions of the US president.
“So the fact that the Department of Defense receives as a GIFT, FREE, a 747 plane for the temporary replacement of the 40-year-old Air Force One, as part of a very public and transparent deal, bothers the corrupt Democrats so much that they insist we pay for this plane at top price,” Trump wrote.
However, criticism of this move comes from all sides, as Trump's presidency and his business interests in the Middle East may conflict.
“Even in a presidency characterized by self-interest, this move is shocking,” said Robert Weissman, co-president of the organization Public Citizen, which advocates for consumer rights. “It clearly shows that US foreign policy under Donald Trump is up for sale.”
Since his election, Trump has been frustrated by budget overruns and delays with two new Air Force One planes that Boeing is supposed to deliver to the federal government under contract. The two current Air Force One planes are over 30 years old and require frequent maintenance, which sometimes takes months.
Photo: The New York Times