This Word Means: Boeing 747
WHY NOW?
The US formally accepted Qatar's gift of a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet, valued at around $200 million, on Wednesday (May 21). The US Air Force will attempt to refurbish it to put it into use as part of the President's official aircraft fleet, Air Force One.
'The Secretary of Defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations,' Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. 'The Department of Defense will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the president of the United States.'
US President Donald Trump, while accepting the 'gift' earlier this month, said he would be 'stupid' to turn it down. And with good reason. The 747-8 is one of the world's most luxurious jets and belongs to a newer fleet of planes than the current batch that forms part of Air Force One.
According to a Business Insider article, the interiors of the jet have been designed by French interior design firm Cabinet Alberto Pinto and reflect its previous use by a Middle Eastern businessman.
The interiors of the jet are currently sectioned into several rooms, including a foyer and bedrooms, similar to a house. Unlike a traditional aircraft with seats that confine passengers to a steady position, this jumbojet resembles a two-storeyed luxury villa and features lounges and dining areas, private offices and guest bedrooms, bathrooms, beds and suites. The showers in particular are a major selling point of the Boeing and Airbus luxury jets, according to the article.
WHAT ARE SOME CONCERNS AROUND THE GIFT?
Across party lines, lawmakers of both the Democratic Party and Trump's own Republican Party are investigating whether the 'gift' violates ethical and legal guidelines.
According to the US Constitution's Emoluments Clause, Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 was designed to shield the republic from foreign influence. It reads, 'No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.'
The gift has also raised questions of impropriety, with lawmakers wondering if Qatar is attempting to purchase influence with the US, or if the plane itself may be equipped with spying devices.
According to a report by The New York Times, some members of Congress worry that Trump will pressure the US Air Force to expedite work for its readiness as a presidential plane, and may not allow the time to integrate the required security measures into the plane. The Air Force One, which carries the President, will need to be equipped with defence systems against missiles or even nuclear weapons.
According to the NYT report, Qatar has been attempting to dispose of this plane for the last five years since it was last used by members of the royal family. The article cited an airline broker as saying he had a hard time finding a buyer for 747 jets, whose manufacture was stopped in 2022. These planes are expensive to operate and use four engines, while current heads of state rely on the less expensive two-engine jet planes.
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