The president of the United States, Donald Trump, furiously rejected ethics concerns about his plans to recite a Qatar plane to be used as Air Force One, saying that it would be “stupid” not to accept that gift.
“It’s a great gesture,” said the 78 -year billionaire to the White House journalists when asked if the state of the Petroleum Rico Gulf would expect something in return.
“It would never be one to reject that son of an offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person (and) say” no, we don’t want a free and very expensive plane. “
Qatar’s royal family has offered to donate a luxury jumbo 747-8 while Trump expects the delayed delivery of two new Boeing presidential planes.
But the measure raises huge constitutional and ethical questions, as well as security conerns on the use of a plane donated by a foreign power for use such as the Air Force One Ultra sensitive.
The Constitution of the United States prohibits government officials from acceptance “of any king, prince or foreign state”, in a section known as the emolument clause.
Trump responded angry when asked if he would use the plane in personal quality after leaving the presidency.
“You should be ashamed to ask that question,” Trump told a journalist. “They are giving us a free jet. I could say, no, no, no, I don’t give us, I want to pay $ 1 billion or $ 400 million, or whatever. Or could say, thanks very mus.”
Trump said Insead would be donated to his future presidential library as an exhibition, in the same way that Ronald Reagan’s library has a former Air Force One plane.
– ‘Most important transparency’ – –
Trump and the White House also claim that Jatar Jet would be a gift for the United States Department of Defense, which would also overcome constitutional groups.
The press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that the White House would act with “the greatest transparency.”
“The Qatar government has simply sacrificed to donate a plane to the defense department. The legal details of that are still well resolved,” Leavitt told Fox News.
“But, of course, any donation to this government is always done in full compliance with the law, and we commit ourselves to the greatest transparency, and we will continually do it.”
When asked if there were groups that Qatar would do it because in return, Leavitt replied: “Absolutely not, because they know President Trump and know that he only works with the interests of the American public in mind.”
Qatar quickly tried to minimize the uraro, saying that the plane would not be a gift.
“The possible transfer of an aircraft for the temporal use Air Force One is currently being considered between the Qatar Defense Ministry and the United States Department of Defense,” said Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar media to Washington.
However, the Democrats immediately criticized the plan.
“Any president who accepts this gift son, valued at $ 400 million, of a foreign government creates a clear conflict of interest,” said a statement from four members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The declaration of Senators Cory Booker, Brian Schatz, Chris Coans and Chris Murphy said that “he raises serious national security questions, invites foreign influence and undermines public confidence in our government.”
Trump has been discontent for a long time with the current Air Force One Jets, two Boeing 747-200b series highly personalized that entered the service in 1990 under President George Hw Bush.
Earlier this year, Trump said his administration was “looking at alternatives” to Boeing after delays in the delivery of two new 747-8 aircraft.
Trump also has a model of the future Air Force One in its red, white and hand -up -handed blue at the coffee table in the oval office, in front of where he sits with foreign leaders.
Trump already has his own Jet Private Brand “Trump Force One” that used to fly around the 2024 electoral campaign.
