President Donald Trump is set to acquire a Boeing 747-8 Jumbo Jet, dubbed the “Flying Palace,” from the royal family of Qatar, which will serve as an upgraded Air Force One.
This plane, previously used by the Qatari royals, is replacing two older Boeing 747-200 jets that have been in service for the U.S. president since the 1990s. The new aircraft, valued at approximately $400 million, will act as the interim presidential jet while Boeing is working on two new planes for the Air Force fleet.
Back during his first term, Trump proposed a $3.9 billion contract to Boeing to modernize the presidential fleet. However, the delivery of new aircraft faced numerous delays, resulting in significant financial losses for the company.
On social media, a tweet claimed that Trump was being set up by the Qatari royal family to accept this luxurious aircraft, and that his team is prepared to receive the jet.
Upon taking office, the “Flying Palace” will be turned over to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. An announcement about this gift is anticipated during Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East.
Additionally, Trump has instructed defense contractor L3Harris to implement extensive modifications to the new aircraft, including advanced anti-missile systems and state-of-the-art communication technology.
Approval from the government will be needed for defense contractors to start work on the planes. An investigation by Attorney General Pam Bondy and White House lawyer David Warrington concluded that accepting the jets from Qatar is legal under current regulations.
According to the Constitution, individuals in positions of power cannot accept gifts from foreign entities without Congressional approval; however, Trump argues that since the planes are not officially gifts, the situation is clear-cut.
White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt addressed inquiries regarding the potential connection between Trump’s Middle East trip and his personal business interests.
