Qatar, Trump
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In a rare break with the president, some inside the GOP are expressing concern over the potential national security risks of accepting a luxury Boeing 747 jet from Qatar to replace Air Force One.
Qatar’s offer of a luxury Boeing 747 to President Donald Trump has set off alarm bells within the US intelligence and diplomatic community, where gifts from foreign powers have long been viewed with suspicion.
Security experts told BI that the work required to make a plane from Qatar ready to be Air Force One would be like building a new plane.
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a $200 billion deal between Qatar Airways and Boeing, a lifeline for the beleaguered American aerospace giant and a powerful symbol of the diplomatic maneuvering defining his presidency.
Converting a luxury jet gifted by Qatar to President Donald Trump into a replacement for Air Force One could potentially cost hundreds of millions of dollars and it could take up two years to install the necessary security equipment,
President Donald Trump is reportedly set to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar during a trip to the Middle East this week, though the Qatari government has said it hasn’t made a final decision to do so.
Roger Wicker, the powerful leader of the Armed Services Committee, disparaged President Donald Trump’s plan to accept a Boeing aircraft from Qatar — adding to a bipartisan chorus of lawmakers criticizing the potential gift.
President Donald Trump’s Middle East trip is marked by potential conflicts. Trump’s Qatari airplane gift would pose security risks, officials say. Trump’s major tax bill could reshape the U.S. economy and immigration policy.