Trump hails Qatar’s ‘great gesture’ of Air Force One substitute, blaming Boeing delays

President Donald Trump on Monday stated Qatar had made a “very nice gesture” in providing the U.S. a 747 jet to behave as Air Force One, blaming the will for the sort of donation on delays at U.S. producer Boeing.

“I think what happened with the plane is that we’re very disappointed that it’s taken Boeing so long to build a new Air Force One, we have an Air Force One that’s 40 years old,” Trump informed journalists on the White House, regarding the presidential aicraft which is lately a changed model of the double-deck Boeing 747.

“You look at some of the Arab countries and the planes they have parked alongside the United States of America plane, it’s like from a different planet.”

A White House authentic informed CNBC that no airplane “gift” can be introduced or authorised throughout Trump’s seek advice from to Qatar this week, whilst Qatar stated the “transfer of an aircraft for temporary use” to the U.S. Department of Defense used to be into consideration.

Trump, who may be set to seek advice from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week, stated he had a “lot of respect for the leadership and for the leader of Qatar.”

“They knew about [manufacturing delays] because they buy Boeings, they buy a lot of Boeings, and they knew about it and they said we would like to do something. And if we can get a 747 as a contribution to our defense department to use for a couple of years while we’re building the other ones, I think that was a very nice gesture… I appreciate it very much,” he stated.

“I could be a stupid person and say no, we don’t want a free plane,” he persevered, announcing it prices an “astronomical” quantity to care for airplane.

Trump added he would now not use the jet after leaving place of work and that it will input his presidential library.

Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s Media Attaché to the U.S., informed CNBC: “The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made.”

Reports that the Qatari govt might be making ready to present a Boeing 747 to the U.S. temporarily brought about a political stir, with some opposition lawmakers arguing the transfer can be unconstitutional and may just probably reveal the White House to international interference or spying.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt informed CNBC: “Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump’s Administration is committed to full transparency.”