WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews)-President Donald Trump on Monday floated the idea of the U.S. accepting a donated Boeing 747 jet from Qatar to serve as a temporary Air Force One, citing delays in the production of the next-generation presidential aircraft and concerns over America’s aging fleet.
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Speaking in an interview, Trump said the offer from Qatar represented a “very nice gesture” and emphasized that he would not personally use the aircraft after leaving office. Instead, he suggested the plane could eventually become part of his presidential library.
“I think this is just a gesture of good faith,” Trump said. “It’ll go to my library… I thought it was a great gesture.”
Trump pointed to significant delays in Boeing’s production of the new Air Force One aircraft, saying the current fleet—based on 747-200 models—is outdated and expensive to maintain.
“You know, we have an Air Force One that’s 40 years old,” Trump said. “You look at some of the Arab countries and the planes they have parked alongside the United States of America plane, it’s like from a different planet.”
According to Trump, Qatar’s leadership, with whom he claimed to have a good relationship, offered the aircraft as a show of appreciation and a contribution to the U.S. Defense Department while the new Air Force One is still under development.
“They said, ‘We would like to do something,’ and if we can get a 747 as a contribution to our Defense Department to use during a couple of years while they’re building the other ones—I think that was a very nice gesture,” he said.
Trump framed the potential acquisition as practical, given the high costs associated with maintaining the current aircraft.
“Now, I could be a stupid person and say, oh, no, we don’t want a free plane. We give free things out. We’ll take one, too,” he said. “The money we spend, the maintenance we spend on those planes to keep them tippy-top is astronomical.”
Neither Boeing nor Qatari officials have publicly commented on the reported offer. The U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense also have not issued any statements confirming whether such a proposal is under consideration.
Such brazen in-your-face corruption!
I still think the airplane is just a container for Greek soldiers.
A gift of a golden 747 from Hamas’s sugar daddy. How is Bibi going to top that?
This present will no doubt be full of hidden microphones. Trump will use it?
I’m really hoping this Qatar (supporters of Hamas) story and the last few weeks of Trump and Israel news about US having talks with Iran and Hamas don’t mean what I fear they do. I guess we just need to keep davening. Lev Melachim B’yad Hashem.
How much extra will it cost to bring this 747 up to the standards for an Air force One as a temporary plane for Trump that he will then take possession of when he leaves the White House? I thought Trump and President Musk were looking for ways to save money by cutting waste, fraud and corruption not to spend extra money for a temporary flying palace for Trump.