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Discussion » Questions » Politics » Should Trump accept a $400M plane from Qatar if he uses it as President and then transfer it to his presidential library foundation?
Jane S

Should Trump accept a $400M plane from Qatar if he uses it as President and then transfer it to his presidential library foundation?

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-trade-adviser-says-deal-struck-china-geneva-talks-2070698

Posted - May 11
Tags : None

Responses


  • 11634

    Pretty sure that it comes with strings attached – so I don’t think he should be allowed to except it.

    Also Air Force 1 has a lot of deference stuff to protect the President – which the Qatar jet probably doesn't have. So I imagine if Trump is going to use it – the tax payers will be paying for the upgrades. Cheers!

      May 11, 2025 12:32 PM MDT
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  • 11735
    I'm sure it has nothing to do with all the business dealings that Trump has in the Middle East. And the DOJ says it's OK, even though some Congress members are saying it violates the Constitution. The article didn't say who is paying for the upgrades,  but at least if Trump gets to keep it when he leaves office we won't be stuck with the upkeep. :D
      May 11, 2025 2:05 PM MDT
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  • 4517
    We may not have to pay for the uipkeep, but you can bet the taxpyers will be paying for the upgrades that need to be made and what I'm reading is that it will cost billions to get it up to the same standard as Air Force One currently.
      May 13, 2025 2:58 PM MDT
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  • 11634

    I was thinking that - that jet could have hidden spyware in it’s computer system so every message and conversation could be heard. It could also have a hidden virus that could take over the controls - if a deal is broken. But all Trump is probably thinking about is the jet is called a palace in the sky – and he deserves a palace in the sky – even if American tax payers pay for the extra cost. Cheers!

    This post was edited by Nanoose at May 12, 2025 8:40 AM MDT
      May 11, 2025 2:56 PM MDT
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  • 35325
    1. They are not giving it to Trump. 
    2. They are giving it to the US government.
    3. Because it is available and Boeing for some reason is unable to deliver on the 2 planes that were ordered during the first Trump administration.
    4. They were supposed to be delivered last year.But Boeing told the gov last Nov that the planes will not be ready until 2035.
    5. Yes, a company, L3Harris, has been contracted to bring it up to Air Force One standards. They are our 6th largest contractors. This post was edited by my2cents at May 11, 2025 5:34 PM MDT
      May 11, 2025 5:26 PM MDT
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  • 11735
    So, that's a yes, then. Thank you.
      May 11, 2025 6:57 PM MDT
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  • 11735
    1. Ownership will transfer to the private foundation that controls the Trump presidential library when he leaves office
    2. They are giving to the Air Force for a set period of time only
    3. Boeing says the first new Air Force One will be delivered in 2027 - (we'll see how that goes)
    4. The second Air Force One is due in 2028 
    5. Air Force One is essentially a flying bunker. The passengers can survive a nuclear holocaust. Some of the features, like mid- air refueling are not on the Qatari plane. This is not a new plane and it was not built in the US by US workers with security clearances. In order to be certain that there are no hidden surveillance devices or anything that would endanger the plane or those on board, it would basically have to be disassembled. The cost of the upgrades will be huge (estimated at 100's of millions) and will be time consuming. This would be at taxpayer expense and in the end, the plane will not belong to the government at the end of Trump's term.
    6. There is also a question of why we would accept this from the main financial backer of Hamas.
      May 12, 2025 9:44 AM MDT
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  • 11634

    Trump has been bad mouthing Air Force One since 2016. Back then he was saying things like – I like my personal jet better than Air Force one because its bigger.

    A few months ago he was complaining that it wasn’t fair that he had to fly around in an old jet that has been around since Bush.
    Then he started complaining that it was taking too long for the 2 new jets to be finished - so he sent Musk in to see if he could speed things up by relaxing security clearance rules. If they did do that they might of put presidents in danger for years to come.

    Air Force One is an incredible aircraft and Trump should be proud to be flying around in it. Cheers!

      May 12, 2025 2:23 PM MDT
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  • 35325
    If they do not do something then Boeing is back too 2035 and those current planes are old. And cost a lot in repairs. 
    To the plane is needed. 
      May 12, 2025 3:21 PM MDT
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  • 11735
    https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/05/boeing-says-it-can-deliver-air-force-one-2027if-requirements-are-relaxed/405163/
      May 12, 2025 5:03 PM MDT
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  • 11735
    The Qatari plane is not and probably cannot be made safe and secure for presidential security. The cost for the two Air Force One planes is almost $4B and Boeing is taking a huge loss. Why the US would want to throw money at an inferior plane that they won't be allowed to keep is beyond me. As the saying goes, 'there's no such thing as a free lunch'. This video will tell you about all the features that the Qatari plane won't have.



      May 12, 2025 5:18 PM MDT
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  • 11634

    I think the reason why the US will throw money at an inferior plane that they won't be allowed to keep is because Trump insists that they do. As soon as Trump heard it was a palace in the sky – he had to have it at any cost to the taxpayers. Cheers!

      May 12, 2025 5:52 PM MDT
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  • 11634

    I found some photos of the jet and it doesn't look that luxurious to me.
    The furiture looks like something you would find at Ikea.
    Cheers! 

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-400m-gift-qatar-just-101217866.html


     

      May 12, 2025 7:01 PM MDT
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  • 17274
    Can anybody say "emoluments"?
      May 13, 2025 4:08 AM MDT
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  • 11735
    It goes without saying. What is more troubling is the idea that we are supposed to believe an off-the-shelf airplane can serve as Air Force One  or that a 'gift' from a government that backs terrorism has no strings attached. What's next? A Rolls-Royce from Russia that the Secret Service will use instead of the heavily armored 'Beast' to transport the President?
      May 13, 2025 7:19 AM MDT
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  • 11634

    A Rolls might be Trump’s next gift but I think it is more likely to be a spaceship. Trump has been taking in white south Africans and claiming they are refugees. So maybe Musk will gift Trump with a spaceship. Cheers!

      May 13, 2025 8:36 AM MDT
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  • 11735
    I think Trump can take gifts from private citizens, so we'll see when the spaceship get delivered. 
      May 13, 2025 9:10 AM MDT
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  • 11634

    Yeah I guess Trump can except gifts from private citizens – but maybe that should change. Wealthy private citizens can buy an under the table favor and pay with a “gift” – just like countries can.

    The “gifts” Trump gets can cost taxpayers money – I’m sure it costs a few bucks to take car of that Cyber truck that Musk gave Trump. And it will take lots of money to take care of that new jet.

    It cost a couple hundred bucks a month to rent a 8 by 10 foot storage locker – can you imagine how much an aircraft hanger will be. Cheers!

    This post was edited by Nanoose at May 13, 2025 3:00 PM MDT
      May 13, 2025 9:42 AM MDT
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  • 4517
    As far as I'm concerned, Musk can send Trump to Mars right now.
      May 13, 2025 9:25 AM MDT
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  • 35325
    The 2 Air Force One planes that we have now, we're off the shelf planes that were redone. 
    No one is claiming this one is ready from the start. But it is free and can be ready sooner than Boeing who has had years and is years behind schedule.   The money saved from repairs on the old ones likely covers the cost of upgrading this one. 
    Qatar is considered an USA ally as declared by the Biden administration in 2022.
      May 13, 2025 12:55 PM MDT
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  • 11735
    I concede that off-the-shelf was a poor choice of words, since as I understand it, the new ones are regular models thar are modified.

    This really isn't about money and I have not done a cost analysis, nor do I plan to.
      May 13, 2025 1:53 PM MDT
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  • 4517
    May be an image of 1 person, jewelry and text that says 'Hillary Clinton wasn't allowed to keep a $425 necklace gifted to her by Bangladesh when she was Secretary of State. Donald Trump is about to a $400 MILLION plane as a bribe from Qatar.'
      May 13, 2025 8:50 AM MDT
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  • 11735
    Maybe they thought it was rigged with a listening device or a kill switch, which would never happen to a plane.
      May 13, 2025 9:12 AM MDT
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  • 4517
    May be an image of 2 people and text that says 'The country that made Jimmy Carter give up up his peanut farm is looking the other way way while the current president accepts a $400 airplane as a gift. lakoustic'
      May 13, 2025 9:26 AM MDT
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