Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted a gifted Boeing 747 aircraft from Qatar for President Donald Trump to use as Air Force One, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
The Defense Department will “work to ensure proper security measures” on the aircraft to make it safe for use by the president, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. He added that the plane was accepted “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.”
Trump has defended the gift, which came up during his recent Middle East trip, as a way to save tax dollars.
“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE,” Trump posted on his social media site during the trip.
Others, however, have raised concerns about the aircraft being a violation of the Constitution’s prohibition on foreign gifts. They also have noted the need to retrofit the plane to meet security requirements, which would be costly and take time.
Trump was asked about the move Wednesday while he was meeting in the Oval Office with South Africa’s president. “They are giving the United States Air Force a jet,” Trump said.
The Republican president has presented no national security imperative for a swift upgrade rather than waiting for Boeing to finish new Air Force One jets that have been in the works for years.
(AP)
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5 Responses
If Harris had won the election and accepted this gift, we would never hear the end of it from the frum community. There would be rallies, commercials, etc…Now, we hear barely a peep.
Complete unconstitutional bribe! In addition, it will cost up to $1 billion to refit, and years to do the work. So it’s free for trump and the taxpayers have to pay for it. When will it even be used? Why should he be able to keep it? If they’re giving it to the country, as they claim, it should be kept as a backup. Complete fraud.
We know very well did a bribe has an effect. Not only is it a corrupt act but there will be unfortunate ramifications in his thinking as well.
trump is fire
The Israeli Government urgently needs to grant Trump a gift valued of at least $401 Million dollars. He will otherwise intimidate and nudge them when it comes to matters that effect the well being of Arab nations as he has already begun doing so.