Donald Trump under pressure against Boeing at $ 400 million offered by Qatar – Liberation
A present that makes a stain. The Donald Trump administration is taken in a new controversy this Monday, May 12, the day after the American press revelations on a luxury plane that the presidency could receive as a gift. It is a Boeing 747-8 Jumbo, estimated at $ 400 million by experts, that the ABC News channel has described as « Palace in the sky ». The catch: the device would come of Qatarand more particularly of the royal family.
It could be the most expensive good ever offered to the government of the United States. But this gift raises the question of potential conflicts of interest, especially as The American Constitution prohibited to the depositaries of the public authority to accept gifts « On the part of a king or a prince of a foreign state ».
Without mentioning Qatar, the American president mentioned on its Truth Social network a « gift »fruit of an operation « Completely public and transparent » for the benefit of the Ministry of Defense. According to him, this device « free » must « Replace temporarily » The two aging Air Force One, the presidential planes.
According to the ABC channel, which quotes sources close to the file, the announcement of this XXL gift must be made during Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, with a stopover in Qatar, from Tuesday to Friday. A spokesperson for the Emirate Embassy in Washington, Ali Al-Ansari, however said in a statement that‘ »No decision has been made ». « The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Force One is currently under discussion between the Qatari and American Defense ministries »added the diplomat.
The Republican leader intends to replace the two current Boeing 747-200B, who entered service in 1990 under President George Bush Father. Since his return to power, Donald Trump has raged several times against the significant maintenance costs of these aging devices.
According to ABC, the Trump administration considers that the operation is legal. Sources in the Ministry of Justice and the White House argue in particular that the gift would be offered not to a particular individual but to the Air Force, and that no favor would be granted in exchange. The fact remains that, according to American media, Donald Trump could continue to use the new plane after leaving his duties because the property would then be transferred from the Air Force to its foundation.
Boeing had promised in 2018 to deliver two new devices to the US administration before the end of 2024, but the American aeronautical company, entangled in economic and quality of production problems, accumulates delays. Unhappy, the tenant of the White House had suggested in February that the new presidential plane could come « From another country ». Such a device must be equipped with high -tech communication instruments, medical installations and a very efficient defense system. According to the Wall Street Journalthe American company L3harris has already been responsible for adapting the Qatari luxury plane to these needs.
In an email addressed to its sympathizers, the National Committee Democratic Party accused Donald Trump of wanting « Get rich ». Senator Chris Murphy criticized an operation « Largely illegal »and MP Kelly Morrison spoke of « Corruption in the sight of all ». The American president said, for his part, that his political adversaries « Insist » Unjustly to pay a considerable sum, not mentioning an American counterpart in this transaction.
The same Boeing 747-8 Jumbo offered by Qatar had been involved in an imbroglio in Türkiye in 2018. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had described it as a « gift » In the country, while the opposition accused him of having bought him to satisfy personal luxury desires.
