Donald Trump's Air Force One deal with Qatar isn't final as gift may turn into legal liability

The U.S. Defense Department said the deal with Qatar for a luxury jet is done, but actually, legal teams from the U.S. and Qatar haven't finished the paperwork yet. Qatar wants the agreement to clearly say it was the Trump administration that asked for the plane, and Qatar won’t be blamed for future transfers of the aircraft, as per reports.

The deal is stuck because there’s a debate over turning a plane sale into a “gift”, which could bring legal problems. Trump told reporters, “I got a beautiful big magnificent free airplane for the United States Air Force.” Even though the legal issues might not kill the deal, they could make people question how the deal really started, according to The Washington Post.

Trump claimed Qatar offered the jet first, but actually, his team asked Qatar this winter after Trump got mad about delays in two Boeing jets he ordered earlier. The original plan was to buy the plane, but later Qatar agreed to give it as a gift, as reported by CNN and New York Times


A White House official confirmed that the deal is still being worked on, not complete yet. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said there's no doubt it’ll be a free gift to the U.S. Air Force, as per The Washington Post report.

Qatar is getting heat from both Democrats and some Republicans over giving the luxury jet. Senator Chris Murphy and others tried to block $1.9 billion in U.S. arms sales to Qatar unless the jet offer was canceled. Murphy called the gift “an illegal bribe” and said it’s unconstitutional.

House Democrats led by Rep. Gregory Meeks made a law proposal to stop federal money from being used to transfer such a jet to the U.S. or Trump’s library. Trump said critics are wrong, and the jet is way too big for personal use, “It’s too big. Much too big”, according to the report by The Washington Post.

White House lawyer David Warrington wrote in March that the U.S. can take the plane in two steps, first to the U.S., then later to Trump’s presidential library foundation. Last week, it seemed the deal was done after Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the jet was accepted legally. But actually, legal teams haven’t talked since May 9, and things are still incomplete, as per reports.

Trump really wants the jet, he saw it on Feb. 15 at Palm Beach Airport and said, “They’re giving it to me.” Trump “loved” the jet’s modern design, more space, and workstations compared to old Air Force One planes.

Despite the controversy, Trump’s team isn’t backing down. One official said, “We’re not cowardly, the press is going to love it.” Trump’s team picked L3Harris, a defense company, to upgrade the plane in Texas to meet Air Force One’s safety standards, as stated in the reports.

But Air Force officials found the jet was “very poorly maintained” and would need millions of dollars in repairs just to be usable. To make the jet safe for presidential use, it could cost $1.5 billion. To convert it later to civilian use might cost another $500 million, as mentioned by The Washington Post report.

A former Air Force Secretary, Frank Kendall, said Trump can skip some safety rules if he wants it done fast, “He’s the commander in chief.”

FAQs:

Q1. Did Qatar really gift Trump a plane?
Not yet, legal talks are still going on, and nothing is final.

Q2. Why is the Air Force One deal with Qatar controversial?
Because turning a plane sale into a gift may break rules and raise legal and political issues.