Donald Trump defended himself from criticism and said on Monday that Qatar had made a “gesture of goodwill” by gifting him a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-80 aircraft that will now be used as one of the Air Force One presidential planes.
While Trump said he will not donate it after the end of his term, two sources told NBC News that once his second term ends, the plane will be handed over to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library.
What did Trump say about Qatar’s donation?
“I think it has been a very nice gesture. I could be foolish and say: no, we don’t want a free airplane (...). It benefits us because we have 40-year-old planes. The money we spend on maintenance to keep them in optimal conditions is astronomical,” Trump said on Monday in a conversation with the press at the White House.
Trump stated that he will not use the plane after leaving office. "It’s not a gift for me. It’s a gift for the Department of Defense," he said, adding that it is a good “contribution,” considering also that the United States “helps” countries in the region to stay safe.
According to the New York Times, the President of the United States is upset about delays in a contract with Boeing for two new presidential planes.
Strong criticism against Trump for the gift from Qatar
The gift from the Qatari government was announced days before Donald Trump embarks on his first official tour (he was briefly at the funeral of Pope Francis), through Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
The gift has generated strong criticism in the United States, considering that it comes from a foreign government.
Even far-right activist Laura Loomer, a supporter of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement, criticized Trump for accepting the gift and accused Qatar of financing paramilitary organizations close to Iran.
The legal office of the White House and the Department of State commissioned a report that endorsed the legality of accepting the gift, as reported by the television network ABC News.
The thirteen-year-old aircraft will need to be modified to become the official plane of the President of the United States, and it will also have to be thoroughly inspected by the Secret Service.
Currently, the US government has two Air Force One aircraft that have been in service since the 1990s.