Trump is clear: “we deserve something more impressive”... and the current Air Force One is no match for the Qatari jet

President Donald Trump has made clear that he wants to accept Qatar’s offer of a new plane to be used as Air Force One.

While in the Middle East on his first international trip as president, Trump said that the country is worthy of a more modern aircraft to serve as Air Force One.

While sitting in his office on Air Force One, the president told the press that his plane was “much smaller” and “much less impressive” than those of the countries he is visiting. “We are the United States of America and we should have the most impressive plane,” complained the president.

The president’s friends and foes don’t think he should accept the plane

The decision to accept the gift has been condemned by Democrats, as well as some of the president’s closest allies on Capitol Hill and in conservative media. Democrats have focused on the constitutionality of the offer, with the US Constitution stating that the president cannot accept gifts from foreign countries without the consent of Congress.

The White House has attempted to downplay any illegality by pointing out that the gift is not for him but for the country, and that after his presidency, the jet would be transported to his presidential library in Texas.

Conservative voices have focused less on this aspect and more on Qatar. West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito said that she would hope the entire plane, top to bottom, would be examined for spy equipment. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy shared similar sentiments, saying that he trusts the Qatari government as much as he trusts a rest stop bathroom.

Right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro of The Daily Wire described the deal as “skeezy” and called on those who “want President Trump to succeed” to reject the gift and other similar offers. Shipiro also accused Qatar of supporting terrorist groups like Hamas, which was used as further rationale for why the president should turn down the offer.

President Trump has responded to these criticisms by highlighting in a post on Truth Social that the plane is a gift “for a job well done,” defending the nation of Qatar “for many years.” “Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country,” argued the president.

How much will “gift” cost to the taxpayer?

Can it even be considered a gift to the country if the taxpayers are still on the hook? The aircraft is valued at around $400 million, which would make it one of the most expensive gifts from a foreign government ever accepted.

NBC News estimates that it could cost $1 billion to reconfigure and adapt the plane to be safe to use by the president. Aviation experts also told the outlet that they thought it was unlikely that all of the upgrades would be made during the president’s term, meaning it could be outfitted for use as Air Force One, only to then collect dust in his presidential library.

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