Air Force One

The White House may be courting controversy with President Trump’s plans to accept a luxury jumbo jet from the Qatari government, worth $400 million, as the potential new Air Force One — but his administration wouldn’t be the first to welcome lavish gifts from foreign leaders.

The practice goes all the way back to the founding of the country in 1776, with US leaders receiving all manner of exotic and expensive gifts from royalty and heads of government around the world.

In defending the gift of a super luxury jumbo jet he’s preparing to receive from the royal family of Qatar to use as Air Force One, President Donald Trump described it as a brilliant deal. Not for the American people, it isn’t. 

Doha’s decades-long history of buying influence in the U.S. is resurfacing amidst reports that President Donald Trump will accept a gifted luxury Boeing jet by the Qatari government.

President Donald Trump pushed back on Democrats’ concerns over the luxury Qatari jet he may receive from the Middle Eastern country this week, while also revealing that the jet would be “free of charge.”

President Trump defended his decision to accept a luxury Boeing jet from Qatar, calling it “stupid” for him to turn it down amid an influx of criticism from both sides of the aisle over the gift.

President Donald Trump on Monday defended the administration's plans to receive a luxury jumbo jet donated by the Qatari government, saying it would be "stupid" not to accept a free plane, as some Democrats questioned the ethics of such a move.

During remarks at the White House on Monday, before embarking on a four-day trip to the Middle East, Trump called the donation a "very nice gesture" when pressed by reporters if Qatar had asked for anything in exchange...

President Trump may not be seeing red, white and blue on a newly revamped Air Force One after all.
A House Democrat added a provision to the annual defense policy bill to put a stop to the president's patriotic design project. It will keep two new versions of the Boeing 747 aircraft within the projected spending target by banning certain paint jobs and other extras.

President-elect Donald Trump blasted Boeing on Tuesday for alleged cost overruns on a new fleet of Air Force One planes and called for the government to cancel the contract, saying the project price tag is "out of control."

The president-elect took aim at Boeing's Air Force One work in a Tuesday morning tweet, and reiterated his concerns to reporters minutes later at Trump Tower.

President-elect Donald Trump wants to clip the wings of a new Air Force One, saying the customized 747 is too expensive.

President-elect Donald J. Trump, who has for years flown in a jet bearing his name, appeared to cancel a pending order for a new Air Force One, saying Tuesday morning on Twitter that the upgrade would cost too much.