Washington: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday confirmed that a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet offered by Qatar will be used as a temporary Air Force One, until the delayed official replacements arrive.
In a post on social media, Trump explained that the plane, gifted by Qatar, will be used by US government, not personally by him. “The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME!” Trump wrote. “Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done?”
He added that the decision would save money and that the savings would go towards national goals. “This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country,” Trump said.
Criticism and concerns
However, the move faced criticism from lawmakers and ethics experts, especially from Democrats. Critics are questioning whether accepting such a gift from a foreign government is appropriate, given the close ties between Trump and Qatar’s leadership. There are also concerns about national security and whether the aircraft meets US Air Force standards.
Trump dismissed these concerns and criticized his political opponents, calling them “world-class losers.” He defended the move by saying the US deserves a plane that reflects its status. He said the current Air Force One is “much smaller” and “much less impressive” than those used by other world leaders.
Background on Air Force One replacement
During his first term, Trump’s administration signed a deal with Boeing to build two new Air Force One jets. These aircraft are meant to replace the older planes currently in use. The new jets were originally scheduled to be delivered in 2024, but the project has been delayed multiple times.
Now, Trump said the Qatar-supplied jet will temporarily fill that gap until the new aircraft are ready.
It is still unclear how the US military will handle the maintenance, security, and use of the Qatari jet. The Biden administration or the Department of Defence has not officially commented on the matter. If the plan moves forward, it would be the first time the US used a foreign nation’s aircraft as its presidential plane.
