Trump to get new ‘flying palace’ Air Force One present price $400m throughout go to to Qatar, report says | EUROtoday

The Trump administration is getting ready to obtain what is probably going essentially the most priceless present ever given to the U.S. by a international authorities — a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet owned by Qatar’s royal household, with an estimated worth of $400 million.

ABC News studies that the airplane will probably be made obtainable to President Donald Trump to make use of as the brand new Air Force One till shortly earlier than he leaves workplace, at which level it is going to be transferred to the muse accountable for the Trump presidential library.

The president has made it no secret that he’s uninterested in ready for Boeing to supply a brand new Air Force One to exchange the present planes, two modified 747-200 jumbo jets identified by the mannequin quantity VC-25A, which date from 1990.

In February, he mentioned he was “not happy” with the sluggish progress and price overruns on the brand new presidential plane, which have been ordered in 2018, throughout his first time period.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that the federal authorities is hiring protection contractor L3Harris to refurbish a Boeing 747 beforehand utilized by the Qatari authorities. It now seems that the airplane will probably be gifted to the U.S. subsequent week throughout Trump’s first official international journey, barring the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome.

ABC’s reporting cites sources accustomed to the preparations.

Trump toured the airplane in February when it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport. It is alleged to be so opulently configured that it has been known as a “flying palace.”

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Following studies of the present on Sunday, the Qataris pushed again, with Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché, saying in an announcement: “Reports that a jet is being gifted by Qatar to the United States government during the upcoming visit of President Trump are inaccurate.”

“The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense,” the assertion mentioned. “But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made.”

Meanwhile, the association has set off alarm bells in regards to the legality of accepting such a priceless present from a international authorities below the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits any authorities official from accepting items from “any King, Prince or foreign State.” Qatar is a U.S. ally and main diplomatic drive within the Middle East.

Sources informed ABC News that legal professionals for the White House counsel’s workplace and the Department of Justice drafted an evaluation for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that concluded it’s authorized for the Department of Defense to just accept the plane as a present and later flip it over to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.

They declare it doesn’t violate bribery legal guidelines as it’s not conditioned on any official act and isn’t being given to a person, however quite to the Air Force after which the Trump library.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House lawyer David Warrington mentioned it could be “legally permissible” for the donation of the plane to be conditioned on transferring its possession to Trump’s presidential library earlier than the top of his time period, and never the president, personally, the sources informed the community.

They mentioned Bondi supplied a authorized memorandum on the matter to the White House counsel’s workplace final week after her recommendation was sought on the legalities of the present.

Nevertheless, Democrats and even Trump’s far-right ally Laura Loomer have condemned the reported association.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mentioned on X: “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.” There have been related allegations from others on social media.

Axios studies that Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York wrote to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the performing Department of Defense inspector common, and the Office of Government Ethics requesting a probe into the matter, whereas the Democratic National Committee referred to as it Trump’s “latest grift.”

Loomer additionally posted her disapproval: “I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him. But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million ‘gift’ from jihadists in suits.”

“The Qataris fund the same Iranian proxies in Hamas and Hezbollah who have murdered U.S. Service Members. The same proxies that have worked with the Mexican cartels to get jihadists across our border,” she continued, pushing a far-right conspiracy idea. “This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true. And I say that as someone who would take a bullet for Trump. I’m so disappointed.”

Any plane used to move the president should meet strict U.S. army specs, and so the 13-year-old airplane will initially be transferred to the Air Force for modifications.

The full scope of modifications is unknown, however present planes embody radiation shielding, quite a lot of communications programs, and anti-missile know-how. Notably, neither the Qatari airplane nor the upcoming VC-25B plane being constructed by Boeing could have the air-to-air refueling capabilities of the present presidential airplane, permitting it to remain airborne basically indefinitely and with limitless vary.

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Once modified, Trump will be capable to use the plane till no later than January 1, 2029, when it is going to be transferred to the library, lower than three weeks earlier than his time period ends. The Air Force can pay for any prices referring to its switch, the sources informed ABC News.

Boeing estimated that the brand new Air Force One planes at the moment on order is not going to be prepared till 2029. Trump requested Elon Musk to work with them on the challenge, and an up to date timeline of 2027 was given, although the president was insistent that he desires a brand new airplane this yr.

Trump will make his first official international journey of his second time period this coming week, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, with the main focus supposed to be on “economic agreements.”

The Trump Organization, run by the president’s two eldest sons, has rising pursuits within the Middle East. An ethics settlement launched by the corporate in January forbids offers with international governments however permits these with personal corporations.