Donald Trump's Air Force One saga is experiencing a new twist. The President of the United States wants to change his presidential plane, and the entire aviation industry is in turmoil. After turning away from the natural solution of using Boeing, the government has announced that President Trump is preparing to accept a luxury aircraft offered by Qatar to replace the current Air Force One. This $400 million offering is making headlines in the American media, due to its value, of course; it would make it the most expensive gift ever received by the United States from a foreign government. But the legality of this kind intention also arises, as do the consequences it could have on international politics.
According to ABC News, which reported the information, this Boeing 747-800 would be a veritable "palace in the sky." However, despite its value, the legality of the transaction would be proven to the extent that it does not violate anti-corruption laws or the provisions of the Constitution preventing a US government official from accepting gifts "from a king, prince, or foreign state." How is such a sleight of hand possible? Simply because Qatar would be offering this generous gift to the Air Force and not to Donald Trump directly. On the other hand, the president already has some ideas for the future of this big baby. According to several American media outlets, the current president could continue to benefit from the aircraft even after his term, as ownership of this Boeing 747-800 could be transferred to Donald Trump's foundation.
Boeing in the eye of the storm
But how did we get to this point, and since when has an American president stopped relying on the in-house aircraft manufacturer for Air Force One? Dissatisfied with Boeing's performance and the numerous delays, Donald Trump had made it known that he no longer wished to wait for delivery from the American aircraft manufacturer. Indeed, during his first term in office, in 2017, the current president had ordered two Boeing aircraft, which were to be delivered in 2024. These two were supposed to replace the current presidential jets, which entered service in 1990 under George W. Bush.
Tired of waiting, Donald Trump had initially threatened to resort to another Boeing 747 from Global Jet, manufactured at the request of the Qatari government. Ultimately, the compulsive purchase risks turning into an indecent gift, with this present expected to be given to Donald Trump himself during his official visit to Qatar this week.
In any case, the American president should not be able to return home directly aboard his new Jumbo Jet. Indeed, an Air Force One must be equipped with specific equipment and a high-performance defense system. In this regard, the Wall Street Journal reports that the American company L3Harris has already been commissioned to adapt the 747-800 to these needs. If there was still any doubt about Donald Trump's intention to accept this unprecedented gift, it has just lost its weight.
Source: ABC
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