Replacing the Air Force One has become a nightmare for the US. Qatar wants to fix it with a “flying palace”

Air Force One. Few names have more strength than that of the US presidential plane. Ha star filmsis one of the official air transport of the United States (Next to the Nightwatch prepared for the ‘End of the world‘) And it is a strength with wings that has become an iconic vehicle. I had to renew it, and Trump is going to get out “free”

The reason? ABC News affirms that the new Air Force One would be a gift by Qatar’s royal family. Trump does not deny it and is a cocktail that has set fire to US politics. Even to the most related to the president.

It was renewal. He Boeing VC-25 It is the current presidential plane. It has been in service of the 35 -year -old and, although the airplanes usually have a long useful life, maintenance costs began to be unprofitable. In January 2015, the Air Force announced that they had already chosen which plane to work for the new Air Force One: the Boeing 747-8.

Known as VC-25Bthe Air Force organized with Boeing an agreement to buy two 747-8 that were never delivered to a Russian airline that had gained, and thus some money was saved because it is not just buying them: also adapt them with the necessary equipment and security and create an adequate hangar.

Trump negative. In December 2016, before entering the White House for his first term, Donald Trump already showed his disagreement with the price of the program. Boeing is building a new Air Force One 747 for future presidents, but the costs are out of control, more than 4,000 million dollars. Cancel the order! tweeted The tycoon.

The Boeing 747-8 entered into service at the beginning of the last decade and was a modernized generation, with both technological and aerodynamic improvements that, in addition, was one of the longest passenger aircraft in the world. In addition, it is of American manufacture, so it was a clear option for the new presidential plane. It was estimated that it would go into service in 2024, but delays and other problems have prolonged the operation up to, at least2027.

And that is where Qatar’s royal family can change the rules of the game.

A “flying palace” gift. This week, Trump will begin his state travel carousel. As happened in his previous term, Saudi Arabia will be his first destination, followed by Qatar and Arab Emirates. It is one Logic choice Due to the interest shared both in economics (they invest billions in the purchase of American weapons) and geopolitics (US bases in the region, keys to Asian domination), but apart from those treatment, Trump can return with a new presidential plane under his arm.

As we read in NBCDifferent sources suggest that Trump will accept a luxurious Boeing 747-8 as a gift by the Royal Family of Qatar. One of the sources consulted by the American media is one of the White House officials, who admitted that it is true that Qatar has offered to donate a plane to the defense department, but that it is not something that will be accepted during the president’s visit.

From the Catarí press department, they have been somewhat more concrete: “The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use such as Air Force One is currently being considered between the Ministry of Defense of Catar and the US Department of Defense, but the matter remains reviewed by the respective legal departments, and a decision has not yet been made.”

Reactions. This is something that has not taken long to explode in the American political sphere. Democratic representatives have loaded Against the decision, asking for investigations on what they have described as a “flying scam” or as “the most valuable gift ever granted to a president by a foreign government.”

Because we are talking about a vehicle of about 300/4 billion dollars, and there are those who have thrown sarcasm, such as Senator Chuck Schumer. “Nothing says ‘America first’ like an Air Force One sponsored by Qatar. It is not just a bribe, it is a luxury foreign influence with extra space for the legs,” Comment In X.

Bernie Sanders has gone somewhat further, describing the movement as something “ridiculously corrupt” and “blatantly unconstitutional.”

It is not bribery. Critics They assure which is something that must be presented and approved in Congress, because it is the practice to be followed by the Emoluments clause of the Constitution. This prohibits the president and other federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without the approval of Congress, but the turn is that it would not be a gift to Trump, but to the Department of Defense.

A former official of the Department of Justice spoke with NBC anonymously, commenting that bribe Trump is committed to total transparency. ”

Trump himself has commented The following in its Truth social network, qualifying Qatar 747-8 as an Air Force One of Transition:

“The fact that the Department of Defense receives a totally free gift from a 747 plane to temporarily replace the 40 -year -old Air Force One, in a very public and transparent transaction, annoys the corrupt Democrats so much that insist that we pay it, at the price of gold. The Democrats are world -class losers! Maga!”

And after the mandate … Same Leavitt statements for ABC Newsmedium that states that White House lawyers consider that it is “legally permissible” to accept the donation of the plane due to the alleged small print of the agreement: the Catarí government will donate it to the Department of Defense to use it as Air Force One, but before the end of the president’s mandate in 2029, the plane will be donated again: to its presidential library.

In this way, Trump can continue to use it as a private plane when he leaves the position. Of course, this is also controversial and organisms that fight for responsibility and ethics in Washington have shouted in the sky stating that “it is ridiculous because it is a gift for Trump. The federal government is a simple intermediary.” Even the extreme right activist Laura Loomer, who says she would receive a bullet for Trump, has criticized This … in its own way.

“We cannot accept a gift of 400 million dollars by Jihadists in a suit.”

Nightmare. We will see what happens, but although it is not official, it is something that is generating a tremendous amount of noise. Police sources have commented to CNN That such a movement is a “security nightmare”, since the US Air Force will have to dismantle it in search of surveillance equipment and inspect the ship in search of any element that can condition its integrity.

And, beyond all this, the problem really is not the plane, but adapt it to presidential use. “It requires a lot of work to have encrypted communications and manage the Armed Forces and the Federal Government from anywhere in the world in any circumstance,” the director general of an aerospace consultancy called Aerodynamic Advisory told CNN. In statements a AP newsformer defense officials affirm that Air Force One aircraft are strongly modified and that the Qatari plane will have safe communications and classified elements, but will be more limited than a plane built for this purpose.

Therefore, the plane that plans to donate the royal family of Qatar, yes, will be in good condition, but the armed forces will have to put it up legs not only to shield it and mount their communications systems, but to find any possible safety gap. Now, it only remains to wait to see if what is so stir is causing in the American political sphere becomes official and if, finally, it is a decision that is submitted to Congress.

Images | Mehmet Mustafa çelik

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