In what may be the most valuable gift ever extended to the United States from a foreign government, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar.
It is to be available for use by Donald Trump as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which time ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation, sources familiar with the proposed arrangement told ABC News.
The gift is expected to be announced next week, when Trump visits Qatar on the first foreign trip of his second term, according to sources familiar with the plans.
The plane will initially be transferred to the United States Air Force, which will modify the 13-year-old aircraft to meet the U.S. military specifications required for any aircraft used to transport the president of the United States, multiple sources familiar with the proposed arrangement said.
Setting aside intelligence and influence concerns mentioned by others in the thread already, I can’t really see how this is faster than modifying planes already in the US. I mean, it’s a plane with luxury stuff. Surely the issue isn’t putting luxury stuff in the thing, but putting security stuff in.
Hell, if the USAF has to start over from scratch, I’d think that it’d take longer, if anything.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5156686-trump-boeing-air-force-one-delays-frustration/
Trump vents frustration with Boeing over Air Force One delays
President Trump is airing grievances with Boeing over delays in delivering new Air Force One jets, telling Republican governors on Thursday he was “getting a little tired” of the hold up.
“I bought a plane. It’s really two planes, Air Force One. Now if Boeing would build the damn thing it would be nice, too. We don’t build like we used to. We don’t build too fast,” Trump said at a reception for the Republican Governors Association.
Like, I assume that time is Trump’s beef here.
EDIT:
Yeah, this seems to agree with that:
https://www.popsci.com/technology/why-does-air-force-one-take-so-long-to-replace/
Why a private plane isn’t a viable option
President Trump, realizing the pair of new 747-8 planes might not be completed by the time he leaves office, has suggested sidestepping Boeing altogether and modifying a used private jet instead. The suggestion to sidestep Boeing entirely and “convert” a used aircraft could face several challenges, experts said. The extensive modifications required to make such an aircraft capable of functioning as the president’s plane would essentially mean starting from scratch—a process Boeing has already been working through for years. As a result, a converted used jet could potentially take even longer to become airworthy than the two 747-8 models currently in production.
“Honestly, at this point, any changes you make are likely to make it take longer and cost more even if you’re reducing capabilities,” Harrison said.
“It [a converted plane] just wouldn’t be anywhere near as capable as the Air Force Ones we have today,” Aboulafia added.
Not to mention that I kind of wonder what it is that makes the existing, older, aircraft such a problem. Whatever it is has to be something that the Qatari royal plane does. Maybe the existing ones don’t have some sort of fancy convenience? It used to be the norm for leaders to travel on warships, and I suspect that considerably more tradeoffs were made there.
I was under the impression that Musk was going to “fix” Boeing’s delivery of AF1. I think his suggestions included relaxing the security clearance for new hires and getting everyone working 60-hour weeks.
News of that all went very quiet after the announcement though.
Doubt he understands any of the electronic or physical countermeasures for weapons that are installed on AF1.
Could it be as simble as the inconvenience of sharing a plane that Biden once sat in?
“I bought a plane. It’s really two planes, Air Force One. Now if Boeing would build the damn thing it would be nice, too. We don’t build like we used to. We don’t build too fast,”
The possible future where Air Force One is Boeing quality with Qatari design and its critical security features are unnecessarily retrofitted at “move fast and break things” speed… and the only people who will ever use it are Trump’s camp-de-shit…
I like it. It’s a nice future.
deleted by creator
Oh, Cheeto wants it built too fast?
I’d love for him to travel on a Boeing airplane that was built too fast on top of being a Boeing. It would solve so much shit in this world if he did
He should travel with his entire cabinet at all times, too.
By law aren’t gifts over a certain value supposed to become the property of the American people?
In the announcement, Pam Bondi sent a document confirming the “legitimacy” of accepting this gift, that it does not break anti-bribery policies.
For what it’s worth
Because of SCOTUS and their dumbass rulings, impeachment is the only remedy.
“nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know.”
- Donald trump
According to the constitution, presidents are forbidden to accept gifts from foreign states. The practice has been that small gifts are accepted but belong to the nation.
You think the law is still at play over there?
Law has left the room a while ago.
Im pretty sure it was deported.
Trump can’t be charged with anything while president, so it won’t matter if he accepts it and keeps ot as his own personal toy.
Edit: downvotes? Lol, y’all already forget about SCOTUS handing trump immunity for everything he does while in office?
The aircraft normally used by the President and other high officials are more than some luxury vehicle. So is this coming with all the features of the existing 747s used, and will it be disassembled before use to make sure it’s not bugged?
Also, quid pro quo and all that. What’s the catch?
The catch is that he is likely not going to do that and that it is bugged, and he thinks he gets to keep it after he leaves office.
If it’s donated to his presidential library he essentially does keep it.
He doesn’t attend daily briefings, why would he care about the operational capabilities of his kingly litter?
He doesn’t, but the SS does
They haven’t seemed overly concerned with the security of checks notes the Trump hotels they’ve been made to not only stay in but pay for using taxpayer money.
Yes, read the article.
Actually it’s no, then yes, and then… not illegal or stated conditionals, but come on. Every political action has some significance of benefit, even if they state “we just like you, bro”.
Well, for one thing, it’s going to be bugged to fucking shit. Second, Qatar gets boasting rights. Third, trump is the most transactional, selfish cunt ever to have lived, I guarantee you he’ll do Qatar favors that include some kind of oil deal bullshit.
Trump is the bug. It could be squeaky clean because they just need to ask him for hot goss and he’ll dish like a lunch lady.
Trump broadcasts every semi-coherent thought via the Ministry of Truth Social, he is focused on bigly things and can’t be bothered to worry about teeny tiny bugs.
It would be a real shame if someone helped it along to a rapid, unplanned, disassembly.
If Trump gets to keep it after his presidency, it’s not a gift to the United States.
It goes to his presidential library for the use of its staff after his presidency. He won’t technically own it, but he’ll be able to use its value indirectly. It’s definitely flouting bribery laws and daring anyone to do something about it.
What would keep a future president from renaming it to the Book Closet of Mexico?
More important things to do, a lack of pettiness, dignity and a good sense of discretion, to name a few. I hope they make an exception for this one thing, though.
Isnt the 747 old AF and EOL? when was this airframe built? How many miles does it already have on it?
Airplane designs are constantly being updated just because the shape doesn’t have to be. Case in point, though developed in 1963, the latest generation of 747 (the 747-8i) started being delivered in 2012, with the last one in 2023, which is still relatively recent in airplane years.
For another example the B-52 was first introduced in 1955, but is on its 10th generation (B-52J) with updates to avionics as of 2020. So it doesn’t take much to find a good design and then just keep iterating and updating it.
Yeah they’re built to last decades, but only with top maintenance and replacement parts. Which I think was the point of the top-level comment.
LOL, in New York Times headline, “and Post-Presidency Travel”
that dude seems to plan to try to stay by any means necessary until he shuffles off this mortal coil.
Imagine, the day he dies, Elon rules out Trump AI designed to continue his legacy forever, term limits won’t matter because it’s not a person.
He’s too old there’s no way they’d risk it. Even if it’s just a ceremonial election for his chosen candidate which he retains influence over.
Putin style.
I’d like to see a game show called “Bribe or Gift?” In which politicians compete for campaign funding.
Anything at all given to a politician should under any circumstances should be considered to be a bribe.
Yes anything.
You would do well on the show.
I would bet everything I’m worth that there are surveillance devices in that jet
Is it bad that things are so bad that this is a win win? like, chance of it being built with Boeing quality? Win. Bugged? Still better than Signal so win. Foreign adversaries threat that uniquely only affects those on board the plane? win with some collateral damage.
I am not seeing a downside
I bet it has the Signal app built into every screen.
Is there anywhere I can bet on the likelihood they built it as a Trojan horse that will just fall out of the sky when they’re done with him?
I thought that came standard on Boeing.
Bad things happen to good people. I wouldn’t bet on this trend changing
Lol I had the same idea, good to hear I’m not the only werido that can see the risk.
Please please please please PLEASE!
I would say ‘shhhhhh just in case thats it, dont spoil it’, but his admin cant read anyways.
Yeah, the Qataris are famous for their world leadership in avionics.
Jokes on you, it’s a Boeing.
Oh… I mean… Hmmmm…
I’m going to go talk to my broker real quick.
Are they just ripping off the left behind series? Literally what the Antichrist does in those books
More truthful title:
Fat Orange Imbecile Openly Accepts Bribe. Government Secrets Will Be Sent Back For Years To Come.I bet Israel has that jet bugged and ready to explode lol
I’d bet money there was a bid to pay to get your country’s but put in this plane
Bet
