Contra
An unnamed senior Trump administration official insisted to MS NOW “there were no shortcuts taken” to secure the plane and it “went through the same safety protocols that every Air Force One has gone through in accordance with FAA standards, and it is an FAA-certified aircraft.” An Air Force spokesperson said, “we are confident the aircraft is safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet the requirements of the presidential mission. To accelerate delivery, we prioritized critical mission requirements over aesthetics.”
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Tangent
Trump said the U.S. would “probably” strike Iran again Wednesday night after saying earlier in the day the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. was “over” and calling ongoing negotiations between the two sides a “waste of time.”
Key Background
The Trump administration accepted the gifted plane in May last year and Trump took his inaugural flight on the plane last week when he traveled to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. The Air Force has said it spent less than $400 million on security upgrades to the plane, though some experts have estimated the cost is likely closer to $1 billion. The jet is intended to serve as a “bridge” aircraft used temporarily by Trump while Boeing builds two new custom planes that are years behind schedule. The gift has drawn widespread conflict-of-interest concerns, though Trump has claimed it was purely a gift that Qatar seeks nothing in return for. He intends for it to go to his presidential library in Miami after leaving office, though it’s unclear if Trump has the authority to determine its fate.
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further reading
Trump Threatens Fresh Iran Strikes After Declaring Ceasefire ‘Over’ (Forbes)
Trump Said Gifted Qatari Jet Was ‘Free’—But Renovation Cost Could Reportedly Near $1 Billion (Forbes)
Republicans Question Trump’s Plan To Accept Luxury Plane Gift From Qatar (Forbes)
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