Trump: I would be stupid if I said I don’t want a free one an expensive airplane from Qatar

The Trump government plans to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 plane as a donation from the Qatar royal family, which will be upgraded to serve as a presidential aircraft Air Force One, which would make it one of the largest gifts obtained by a foreign government.

When Trump leaves the presidency, the plane will be donated to the Trump Presidential Library, that is, he will continue to use it.

The US president has confirmed that he is expecting to pick up the aircraft by posting on social media by writing « a public and transparent transaction that concerns a FREE GIFT ».

Trump told reporters at the White House that the Qatarians knew about delaying the surrender of the new Air Force One and wanted to help because « we have helped them a lot over the years in the field of security and protection ».

« I was told, ‘We want to do something’, and if we can get a 747 contribution to the Ministry of Defense, I think it’s a very beautiful gesture, » Trump said. And he added: « I could be stupid and say ‘no, we don’t want a free, expensive airplane’ but I found it excellent move. »

Trump toured the aircraft in February while parked at Palm Beach International Airport. The plane is expected to be renovated by a company called L3Harris in Texas.

Work can start as soon as the government approves the way the plane is acquired, as it should also have military opportunities to protect the president.

Many expressed indignation at the essential ethical issues arising from this donation of about $ 400 million. They reported the intersection of Trump’s official duties with his business interests in the Middle East, the enormous value of the luxurious plane and that Trump would use it after his departure from the White House.

« Even in a presidency characterized by deceit, this move is shocking, » said Robert Weisan, a co -chair of Public Citizen, a consumer defense organization. « It makes it clear that US foreign policy under Donald Trump is for sale. »

Acceptance of the luxury aircraft and staying in Trump’s possession after the end of his term, the New York Times writes, would be the clearest example of how he combined his personal and presidential businesses.

The newspaper believes that the agenda of his visit to Gulf countries that are launching today is conveniently aligned with the developing business plans of himself and his family.

There are currently six pending Trump Group agreements with a real estate company with a majority of Saudi Arabia, an agreement of cryptocurrencies with a subsidiary of the Emirates government, and a new plan to build a golf and luxury villas supported by the Qatar government.

Trump still tells the luxurious reception that Saudi Arabia reserved in 2017, on his first trip as president abroad.

They projected his face at the height of the high-rise building of the Riyadh Carlton Hotel, where Prince Mohammed later imprisoned his opponents.

When, a year later, the CIA estimated that the prince was behind the murder of Saudi’s Washington Post Jamal Kasogki’s dissident, Trump stood by bin Salman and prevented his persecution.

The prince successor retaliated. Following the attack of Trump fans in the Capitol, the Trump family was treated by much of the US operational community as a pariah, Nuts said.

It was in this climate that Jared Kouchner, a bridegroom of Trump and a former White House consultant, began his own investment fund, with Prince Mohammed.

Since then, the Trump family’s business relations with the Gulf countries have been increasingly tightened. The luxurious aircraft is a gift within this context.