Preparations underway for Qatari jet that will be used as Air Force One
Preparations to redevelop the Qatari jet This will be used as a current Air Force, and floor plans or diagrams have been seen by senior American officials, CBS News learned.
A memorandum of understanding, or memorandum of understanding, between Qatar and the United States Ministry of Defense, considered by CBS News, describes the “unconditional gift” of a Jumbo Boeing 747-8 plane.
The memorandum was signed earlier this month by the defense secretary Pete Hegseth and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Qatar Defense Affairs. It does not specifically mention Air Force One, but says that the jet can be used by the Pentagon “anyway that it considers appropriate”.
Earlier this year, President Trump confirmed that the royal family Qatari made a Boeing 747-8 for its use. Valued at $ 400 million, the Jumbo Jet should be given to Mr. Trump’s presidential library after the end of his mandate.
Trump, in May, called him “gift”.
“They knew it because they buy Boeings, they buy a lot of Boeings, and they knew it, and they said, we would like to do something,” said Trump. “And if we can get a 747 as a contribution to our Ministry of Defense to use for a few years while they build others, I think it was a very beautiful gesture. Now, I could be a stupid person and say:” Oh no, we don’t want a free plane. “”
“Nothing in this memorandum of understanding is, or should be interpreted or interpreted as an offer, promise or acceptance of any form of corruption, undue influence or corrupt practice,” said the memorandum. “The parties say that the gift is a gift in good faith.” “”
The jet will be given “as it is”, which means that the Pentagon is responsible for all costs to improve the plane to improve its safety.
A budget manager believes that money to pay for improvements will come from the Sentinel program. The Sentinel is the American military program to replace the 400 nuclear missiles Minuteman III across the country. The Ministry of Defense admits that it is the calendar and the budget, with cost exceeding of 81% since September 2020, and should now cost $ 141 billion.
There are constitutional rules against a president accepting gifts from external entities, including foreign governments and even members of the congress. Article I of the Constitution prevents any president from accepting a gift or emolument to a “king, prince or foreign state”, without consent of the congress.
In May, the Democrat representative Ritchie Torres in New York said he had sent a letter to the government’s responsibility office exhorting an investigation into the Trump administration accepting a plane as a gift.
The Washington Post reported on Saturday that the US government and Qatar are expected to finalize the agreement this week.
A source told CBS News in May that the plane must be checked for security and espionage devices before being accepted. The renovations that could cost hundreds of millions will have to be made before the plane is ready to be used as Air Force One, said the Air Force secretary last month.
Jennifer Jacobs contributed to this report.
