What Trump says about the luxury plane he will receive from the royal family in Qatar. Accusations of bribery and corruption
The Trump administration will receive a luxury plane, evaluated at about $ 400 million, from the royal family in Qatar. The transaction triggered accusations of bribery and corruption.
Donald Trump is ready to accept the photo plane: Forbes/X
The personalized Boeing 747-8 aircraft would be made available to President Donald Trump as a new Air Force One until the end of his term, and will then be transferred to the Foundation that will administer the Trump Presidential Library. The transfer is planned at the latest for January 1, 2029, with all the related expenses assumed by the US state.
Trump has indicated that he is ready to accept the luxury plane offered as a gift from the royal family in Qatar, which has almost immediately triggered accusations of bribery and corruption, as well as the tailor -made critics, reports The Guardian.
Qatar acknowledged on Sunday, May 11, in a statement that he had discussions with the US about “Possible transfer“Of a plane to be used temporarily by Trump as a presidential plane. The government in Qatar said, however, that a final decision was not taken, reports AP.
However, on Sunday night, Trump seemed to confirm the plan following a post made on his platform, Social Truth.
“Therefore, the fact that the Defense Department receives a gift, free of charge, a 747 aircraft to temporarily replace Air Force One, 40 years old, in a very public and transparent transaction, disturbs corrupt democrats so much to pay, with many dollars, for the plane.“Wrote the US president.
The aircraft is described as a “flying palace”, and its value is estimated at about $ 400 million.
According to sources quoted by ABC News, the official announcement is expected to take place this week, in the context of Trump's visit to the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar), the first external displacement in his second term.
However, a spokesman for the government in Qatar said it is “inaccurate” to say that the plane will be given “During the future visit of President Trump“.
If the plane is accepted, the one would first be transferred to American Air Force, so that it can be configured to meet the necessary specifications for presidential travel.
A legal analysis drafted at the request of the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth by legal advisers of the White House and the Department of Justice would conclude that the acceptance of the aircraft is legal. The donation is made to the Department of Defense and not to the president as a private person, and the subsequent transfer to the Presidential Library is considered compatible with the American legislation.
Accusations of bribery and corruption
However, the donation triggered a wave of criticism to the president. Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer quickly ironized Trump's political slogan “America on the first place”.
“Nothing says “America in the first place” better than Air Force One, brought by Qatar“He said, adding:”It is not just bribe, it is foreign influence …”.
“Trump must ask the Congress agreement to take these $ 300 million from Qatar. The constitution is perfectly clear: no gift from a foreign state without the permission of Congress. A gift you use for four years and then deposit it in your library is also a gift (and a scam)“, Jamie Raskin, a Democrat Congress in Maryland, said on the X Paltform.
