#Trump solicited the damn thing, so—not a freaking gift at all.
The Inside Story of Trump’s Search for a New #AirForceOne
#Qatar had been trying to sell off a luxury jet for years, with no luck. Then Trump’s team set its sights on it.
#FactCheck #TrumpLies #law #emoluments #corruption #NationalSecurity
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/us/politics/trump-air-force-one-qatar-jet.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Ik8.kIs0.LGc-fUJ-F_4u&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
#Trump wanted a quick solution to his #AirForceOne problem.
The US signed a $3.9B contract w/Boeing in 2018 for 2 jets to be used as Air Force One, but a series of delays had slowed the work far past the 2024 delivery deadline, possibly beyond Trump’s second term.
Now Trump had to fly around in the same old planes that transported President George H.W. Bush 35 years ago🎻.
#FactCheck #TrumpLies #law #emoluments #corruption #NationalSecurity
It wasn’t just a vanity project. Those planes, which are no longer in production, require extensive servicing & frequent repairs, & ofcls from both parties, reaching back a decade or more, had been pressing for replacements [of course the Boeing contract was signed in #Trump’s first term, & the #Qatar *gift* jet happened in his 2nd. So definitely more a priority for Trump than other presidents NYT]
#FactCheck #TrumpLies #law #emoluments #corruption #NationalSecurity
#Trump, though, wanted a new plane while he was still in office. But how?
“We’re the United States of America,” Trump said this month. “I believe that we should have the most impressive plane.” [#FederalWorkers are getting fired, #SocialSecurity offices are being closed & #Medicaid is being cut, but #TrumptyDumpty needs a fancy new plane to feel important.]
#FactCheck #TrumpLies #law #emoluments #corruption #NationalSecurity
