Trumpâs new Air Force One is a free luxury plane from Qatar
Image: Doug Mills/NYT
President Trumpâs decision to accept a ~$400 million luxury plane from the Qatari government has raised ethical, legal, and national security concerns from both sides of the political aisle.
- Under the arrangement, Trump would use the plane as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which point it will be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library foundation.
- Itâs unclear whether Trumpâs foundation would allow him to keep using the plane after he leaves office, though Trump denies he plans to do so.
Why replace Air Force One? In 2018, Trump struck a deal with Boeing to replace the two 747s that have been used as Air Force One for 30+ yearsâbut the project fell behind schedule and billions over budget, pushing its expected delivery date from 2024 to 2027-28.
The pushback: Many Democratic lawmakers say the planeâlikely the most valuable gift ever extended to the US from a foreign governmentâamounts to Trump leveraging the power of his office for personal gain. Some Republican lawmakers and commentators have also questioned whether Trump accepting the Qatari plane is the right move.
All eyes are on the Middle East
The debate comes as President Trump this week officially embarked on a trip to the Middle Eastâthe first major foreign trip of his second termâwhich includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
At a US-Saudi investment forum in Riyadh yesterday, Trump announced two major decisions involving the region:
- Saudi Arabia agreed to invest $600 billion in the US across a series of deals, including ~$142 billion in defense salesâthough some reports peg the cumulative total as closer to $300+ billion.
- The US will remove all sanctions on Syria, some of which have been in place since 1979, following the toppling of then-President Bashar al-Assadâs regime last December.
Looking aheadâŠTrump will remain in the Middle East through Friday, with an overall goal of reaching deals with local countries to invest $1+ trillion in the US.
đ Flash poll: Two questions today:
1a. Do you agree with President Trumpâs decision to accept a ~$400 million luxury plane from the Qatari government to serve as Air Force One during his presidency?
1b. In general, do you agree with Trumpâs latest diplomatic moves in the Middle East (Saudi Arabiaâs $600 billion investment, and lifting all sanctions on Syria)?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying â
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that Trumpâs plan to construct a network of interlocking agreements between the US and its Gulf partners is wise policyâbut he should deeply distrust Qatar, and keep preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon above all else.
- Others contend that the obvious potential for corruption, security compromise, and conflicts should prompt the White House to cancel the dubious "gift" of Air Force One from Qatarâand if not, then Congress should step in.
- âHigh stakes in Trumpâs Middle East tripâ âBaltimore Sun Editorial Board
- âQatar plane gift to Trump is plainly wrongâ âNewsday Editorial Board
- âTrump the improviser has a head-spinning diplomatic weekâ âDavid Ignatius, WaPo
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that Trumpâs most important agenda item in the Middle East is cementing economic ties between the US and the Gulf statesâthough the president canât afford to get cocky, nor assume that everything will go smoothly.
- Others contend that Trump should think twice before accepting the plane âgiftedâ by Qatar, since they will undoubtedly expect something in returnâplus it gives the appearance of dĂ©jĂ vu Biden corruption all over again.
- âTrumpâs High-Flying Persian Gulf Strategyâ âWalter Russell Mead, WSJ
- âQatarâs âPalace in the Skyâ jet is NOT a âfree giftâ â and Trump shouldnât accept it as oneâ âNY Post Editorial Board
- âIs Trump Endangering His Past Middle East Successes?â âJosh Hammer, US News & World Report
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