Donald Trump has defended the reported plan to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family for use as Air Force One, describing it as a “GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE.” In his first public reaction to the controversy, the US president took to Truth Social on Sunday, accusing Democrats of being outraged over a transparent and cost-saving arrangement.“So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA,” Trump wrote.Reports first surfaced over the weekend, with ABC News and The New York Times revealing that the Qatari government is in talks with the Pentagon about transferring a Boeing 747-8 to be temporarily used as Air Force One.
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According to reports, the strategy is to transfer the aircraft to Trump’s political collection at the end of his phrase in January 2029, giving him continued entry post-presidency. The offer has drawn a lot of legal and moral attention, even though Qatari officials have previously denied that Trump received the aircraft as a “government-to-government” transfer. Critics claim that it violates the Salary Section of the US Constitution, which forbids government officials from accepting donations from foreign countries without the consent of Congress. The arrangement, according to ethics professional Kathleen Clark, accuses Trump of using federal authority to make money off of himself. Democrats have spoken out loud against the move, with Representative Kelly Morrison calling it” corruption in ordinary sight” and Senator Chris Murphy calling it “wildly illegitimate.” Also Laura Loomer, a Trump supporter, expressed concern that Qatar’s approval of a present from a nation with ties to organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah would stymie the administration. However, according to reports, the White House has prepared a legal defense, arguing that Trump’s gift is unconstitutional because the plane would be given to a foundation before being approved by the Pentagon, not being individually. The management asserts that there is no corruption involved in the exchange of favors. Trump is scheduled to make the announcement during his trip to the Middle East this month, which includes starts in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Trump toured the jet at Palm Beach International Airport in February, which is said to be worth about$ 400 million. Although it is more than ten years old, it will be equipped with security updates and different modifications before going into service.
