Donald Trump has a plan to take delivery of a shiny $400 million dollar Boeing 747-8 from the Qatari royal family. This decision has opened up a historic partisan battle. The new plan to convert this aircraft into Air Force One raises deep legal and ethical concerns. It further increases national security concerns, since this would be by far the biggest foreign gift ever provided to the U.S. government.
The former president has stated that any acceptance of the aircraft is primarily due to delays from U.S. manufacturer Boeing. But as critics have recently stated, there are deeply dangerous implications for the U.S. when it accepts gifts of this value from a foreign country. But experts are cautioning that turning the jet into Air Force One might take years. This entire process could end up costing U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in the long run.
It’s both regrettable and troubling Former Vice President Mike Pence has chosen to criticize Trump for his ill-advised generosity. Please Pence taken his firm stance that receiving the jet is at odds with U.S. security and intelligence requirements.
“The very idea that we would accept an Air Force One from Qatar I think is inconsistent with our security, with our intelligence needs … I think it’s just a bad idea, and my hope is the president will think better of it,” – Mike Pence
Not just from a financial standpoint either, there are long-reaching implications to the gift we can’t accept. Pence highlighted the dangerous business of collecting intelligence. He added that he is still very focused on all the security and safety needs of the president on his international trips.
“There are profound issues, the potential for intelligence gathering, the need to ensure the president of the United States is safe and secure as he travels around the world,” – Mike Pence
Pence’s concerns are further bolstered by Qatar’s long history of playing both sides, maintaining cordial relationships with both the West and our most ardent adversaries. He suggested that instead of gifting an extravagant aircraft, Qatar should consider investing in infrastructure at a U.S. military base, which would better serve mutual interests.
After Trump leaves office, the jet will be given to the Trump presidential library foundation. This change in ownership is likely to occur right after that. Trump has committed to gifting the plane formally to the U.S. Department of Defense. This ensures that it will be completely untouchable as a private asset for him.
The debate over this highly controversial proposal is getting incendiary. How Trump will respond to the rising clamor to reverse course on this bad move is anyone’s guess. The cost of this policy is far more than just a dollar cost. Its impact reaches into national security and our diplomatic relationships.