Washington — The royal household of Qatar is donating a jumbo jet for President Trump’s unique use as a presidential aircraft, sources advised CBS Information.
ABC Information first reported the reward, which comes as Mr. Trump heads to Qatar as a part of his first worldwide journey of his second time period.
However the aircraft, a 747-8, will not be able to function Air Drive One fairly but, and Mr. Trump will not be utilizing it to fly again to the U.S. from the Center East. The aircraft must be checked for safety and spying gadgets earlier than it’s accepted, one of many sources advised CBS Information.
The aircraft shall be donated to the longer term Trump presidential library shortly earlier than he leaves workplace.
Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s Media Attaché to the U.S., confirmed to CBS Information that the potential switch of an plane for non permanent use as Air Drive One is into consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Protection and the US Division of Protection, however the matter stays underneath evaluate by the respective authorized departments, and no choice has been made.
However Al-Ansar stated experiences that the aircraft shall be gifted throughout this journey are “inaccurate.”
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Sunday that “any reward given by a overseas authorities is at all times accepted in full compliance with all relevant legal guidelines. President Trump’s Administration is dedicated to full transparency.”
Qatar has additionally provided to donate a aircraft to the Division of Protection, however the reward won’t be donated or accepted throughout this journey to Qatar, a U.S. official stated.
Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York confirmed to CBS Information that he despatched a letter to the Authorities Accountability Workplace urging an investigation into the Trump administration accepting a aircraft as a present.
“With an estimated worth of $400 million, the aerial palace would represent essentially the most worthwhile reward ever conferred on a President by a overseas authorities,” he wrote.
Torres requested for an “quick ethics evaluate of the Qatari reward” and “a proper advisory opinion on whether or not the reward violates federal ethics rules and the Emoluments Clause.”
The president is departing Monday on his first main overseas journey of his second time period, set to go to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on the four-day go to.
Leavitt stated Friday that the journey will concentrate on “strengthening ties between our nations,” citing Mr. Trump’s first journey in 2017 to the Center East, the place he “launched his daring peace-through-strength overseas coverage technique.”
“Now, eight years later, President Trump will return to re-emphasize his continued imaginative and prescient for a proud, affluent and profitable Center East, the place the US and Center Jap nations are in cooperative relationships, and the place extremism is defeated rather than commerce and cultural exchanges,” Leavitt stated.
Qatar’s Media Attaché to the U.S., Ali Al-Ansari, disputed experiences, saying in an announcement that the “potential switch of an plane for non permanent use as Air Drive One is presently into consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Protection and the U.S. Division of Protection,” whereas noting that “the matter stays underneath evaluate by the respective authorized departments, and no choice has been made.”
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