Trump is ready to accept luxury jet as a gift from Qatar, say US officials

Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump is ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 Jumbo Jet as a gift from the ruling family Qatar During his trip to the Middle East in the coming week and US officials say that this could be converted into a potential presidential aircraft.

The Qatarian government said a final decision was not made. Nevertheless, Trump defended the idea – what would be a president who accepts an amazingly valuable gift from a foreign government – as a tax -clever step for the country.

“The fact that the Ministry of Defense gives a gift from a 747 aircraft, which the 40 -year -old Air Force One, temporarily replaces in a very public and transparent transaction, receives a gift.” Everyone can do that! ”

ABC News reported This Trump will be monitored by the plane as its presidential aircraft until in January 2029, when ownership to the foundation was transferred to the presidential library to be built.

The gift was expected to Trump visits Qatar, according to ABC's report as part of a trip that also includes stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, is the first expanded foreign journey of his second term.

Before Trump's post-trumpet of the idea, Ali al-Ansari, Katar's Medien-Attaché, said in a statement that “the possible transmission of an aircraft for temporary use as a Luftwaffe one is currently being considered between the Qatar Department of Defense and the US Department of Defense”.

“But the matter is checked by the respective legal departments and no decision was made,” added the explanation.

Meanwhile administrative officials, Anticipate ethics problemshave created an analysis in which it was argued that the acceptance of the aircraft would be legal according to ABC. The constitution Emergency clause Bars everyone who has a government office of Acceptance of the present, emolument, office or title from every “king, prince or foreign state” without the consent of the congress.

An expert in the government's ethics, Kathleen Clark from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, accused Trump, “not to have committed the power of the Federal Government in the name of the political goals, but because of the accumulation of personal assets”.

Chuck Schumer, chairman of the Senate Minister, made himself funny about Trump's “America First” Polster -Slogan.

“Nothing says 'America First' like Air Force One, which Qatar brought to you,” said the New York Democrat in an explanation. “It is not only bribery, but also a first -class foreign influence with additional legroom.”

Even some conservatives were dismayed online and found that an airplane that is offered by a foreign government could have security risks if they are used by a US president.

Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747. Two exist, and the president flies on both that are older than 30 years. Boeing Inc. has the contract for the creation of updated versions, but the delivery has been delayed while the company has Lost billions of dollars in the project.

Trump intends to convert the Qatarian aircraft into an airplane on which he can fly as president, whereby the Air Force plans to add safe communication and other classified elements. According to a former US official, however, it will still only have limited skills than the existing aircraft, which were built as Air Force One and two other aircraft under construction.

The official was informed about the plane and spoke on Sunday, on Sunday, on Sunday, on Sunday, the anonymity was to discuss plans that have not yet been published.

The existing aircraft used as Air Force One are strongly modified for a number of eventualities, including radiation protection and antimissile technology, with the ability to survive for the president. This also includes a variety of communication systems that enable the President to stay in contact with the military and to issue commands from all over the world.

The officer informed the Associated Press that it was possible to quickly add some countermeasures and communication systems to the Qatarian level, but that it would be less capable than the existing Airwaffe One Aircraft or Langdelige replacement.

Neither the Qatarian aircraft nor the upcoming VC-25B aircraft will have the air-air recovery skills of the current VC-25A aircraft that the President is currently flying, the official said.

Jordan Libowitz, Communication Director of Advocacy Group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, described such a gift “unexpectedly”.

“The entirety of the gifts that are transferred to a president over his term of office does not come close to this level,” said Libowitz and added: “You have to ask yourself whether he is doing foreign policy – especially with regard to the Middle East – how much it is influenced by his gifts and his business deals.”

ABC said the new plane was similar to a 13-year-old Boeing aircraft Trump toured in FebruaryWhile it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport and he spent the weekend in his Mar-A-Lago Club.

Trump stood on court proceedings for violation of the emrocers' clause in his first term, but these were ended by the Supreme Court in 2021. What the cases found to argue because the Republican had left office.

Trump's family business, the Trump organization, which is now largely operated by his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, has large and growing interests in the Middle East. That includes a To build new -deal A luxury golf resort in Qatar, which works with the Qatar -Diar, a real estate company that is supported by the sovereign Wealth Fund of this country.

Qatar, which is ruled by the Al Thani family, houses the state airline Katar Airways. The country has also worked a close relationship with Trump after he apparently supported a boycott of Doha through four Arab nations in his first term. Trump later applauded Qatar during his term.

Administrative officers have wiped concerns about the political interests of the President who blur with the family businesses. They find that Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children and that a voluntary ethics contract published by the Trump organization in January prevents the company from doing so directly with foreign governments.

However, the same agreement enables business with private companies abroad. This is a departure from Trump's first term when the organization has a published Ethics pact Prohibition of both foreign government and foreign companies.

The press spokesman for the White House, Karoline Leavitt, wondered on Friday whether the president could meet people who have the connections to the business of his family that it was “ridiculous” to say that Trump “does something to his own advantage”.

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The author of the Associated Press Christine Fernando in Chicago and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, united Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.