Egypt Daily News – Two sources familiar with the agreement said that the Trump administration is preparing to accept a luxurious aircraft from the Qatari royal family, which will be upgraded and used as a presidential plane during his second term.
The announcement is expected within days. Trump is set to begin his first major foreign trip on Monday, which includes a visit to Doha. Due to the enormous value of the Boeing 747-8, this move is unprecedented and raises serious ethical and legal questions.
A Qatari official stated that the plane was gifted by the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon, describing it as a government-to-government deal rather than a personal transaction.
The U.S. Department of Defense will then upgrade the plane for presidential use with security features and modifications. A source said that Trump and his aides inspected the plane earlier this year at Palm Beach International Airport, and it is expected to be in use within two years.
After the visit, Trump reportedly boasted to those around him about how luxurious the plane was.
This comes after the U.S. president grew increasingly frustrated by delays in the arrival of the new planes intended for presidential use. At one point, businessman and billionaire Elon Musk was tasked with helping to speed up the process.
