Latest news with #presidentialplane
Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Macron mocks Brigitte ‘shove' on arrival in Indonesia
Emmanuel Macron mocked the 'shoving' incident with his wife Brigitte as he departed the presidential plane in Indonesia on Wednesday. The French president stuck one hand out for the cameras, performing a tongue-in-cheek wave, before appearing at the top of the stairs, laughing. Instead of a shove, after a few seconds of suspense, Mrs Macron appeared, all smiles. The couple then locked arms, Mr Macron gave a thumbs up, and they descended the stairs side-by-side to greet officials. The departure was deliberately staged to make light of Monday's apparent squabble, sources said. Mr and Mrs Macron sparked a global furore after footage showed the French first lady raising her hand and pushing her husband's face, moments before they exited their plane in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Elysée initially suggested it was fake, AI-generated footage, only to later admit the images were real but were in fact a sign of 'closeness' and horseplay after a 16-hour flight. Mr Macron later blamed 'crackpot' conspiracy theorists for seeking to intensify speculation around the state of his marriage. In a fresh bid to quell continued speculation that the couple had fallen out, they chose to play up their departure from the presidential plane in Jakarta on Wednesday. A member of Mr Macron's entourage told France Info that the sequence was a deliberate send-up. 'Yes, they wanted to respond with self-deprecation,' the source was cited as saying. It was 'a gesture that will be seen as humorous by some... and provocative by others', suggested the state radio station. The spoof came hours after Mr Macron's communications team was reportedly in disarray over the 'shove', with splits reportedly emerging on how to handle the incident. The panicked reaction, and about-turn, reflected simmering 'tensions within the Elysée's communications unit', according to France Info. One Macron ally told the channel that the Elysée 'ballsed up' by first talking about fake images. Another insisted that they had to act quickly, adding: 'When they don't, it turns into the conspiracy theory sphere. We're in a world where there's a need for clarity so as not to let crazy stuff flourish.' Mr Macron shrugged off the incident, saying: 'My wife and I were squabbling, or rather we were joking, and I was taken by surprise. Now it has become a kind of planetary catastrophe, and some are even coming up with theories.' But Jean-Claude Dassier, a Europe1 commentator, bemoaned a 'catastrophic' PR reaction over what for him was 'clearly a row', but not an affair of state. 'Why haven't we heard from Brigitte?' he asked. 'For once, it would have been useful to have her plain and simple explanation.' Meanwhile, Olga Ciesco, a body language expert, insisted the initial incident was a dispute of some kind. While not a 'slap', the shove was 'a gesture of rejection,' she told the celebrity magazine Gala. 'She puts her hand on his cheek and pushes him to the point where he is forced to turn his head,' she said. 'He was rejected, a kind of rebuff. 'We can also see that he is reaching out to his wife, because he is used to supporting her, out of gallantry. But she doesn't take his hand, she doesn't accept his help. She is clearly saying no.'
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Trump to accept $400 million 'flying palace' from Qatar royal family to use as Air Force One and will KEEP it after leaving office
President Donald Trump is expected to accept a $400 million 'flying palace' from the Qatar royal family to serve as his presidential plane for the rest of his term. And in an extraordinary sign of the friendship between Trump and Qatar's royals, the opulent plane will reportedly be transferred to the ownership of Trump's presidential library foundation toward the end of his term, according to the ABC. This effectively ensures the aircraft remains in Trump's possession rather than passing on to a future president or returning to Qatar. The unprecedented gift was reportedly expected to be announced next week when Trump visits Qatar, but the offer is yet to be formally accepted. 'Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. 'President Trump's Administration is committed to full transparency.' In a sign that the administration anticipated backlash over the gift, Attorney General Pam Bondi has reportedly investigated the legality of accepting it. She determined that because the gift is not conditional it would not constitute bribery. Similarly, it would not run afoul of Constitutional limits to foreign gifts because the plane would be gifted first to the United States Air Force and eventually to the presidential library foundation - not to any one individual, sources said. Trump has reportedly been underwhelmed by Boeing's efforts to deliver a new pair of state-of-the-art planes to replace the old ones that have been in service since George H.W. Bush administration. Boeing has fallen so behind on the $3.9 billion project that it now fears it won't be able to finish building the planes before Trump leaves office. They were supposed to be finished last year, but a series of supplier and engineering snags has caused the project to take years and go billions over budget. And amid increased collaboration between the United States and Qatar, it is understood the royal family offered a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to the President to refurbish. The opulent plane boasts ornate suites, staterooms, lounges and dining rooms. Nearly every room on board has plush carpeting, leather couches and golden furnishes. The conference room has gorgeous tan and cream chairs with deep cushions that are adjustable with the push of a button. The corridors of the plane are lined with reflective, gold-colored walls that are reminiscent of Trump's design choices at his own properties such as Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan. The interior of the plane was designed by famed French interior design firm Alberto Pinto Cabinet. It is considered one of the most lavish in the world and once listed for about $400 million, according to the Business Jet Traveler. Trump reportedly toured the jet when it was parked at the West Palm Beach International Airport back in February. Defense contractor L3Harris has the enormous task of retrofitting the Qatari jet with the most advanced communications and defense systems in the world in order to make the aircraft fit for the American commander-in-chief. These apparatuses give the president the ability to have a mobile command center in the sky so he can make crucial decisions in event the US were militarily attacked. According to the ABC, it 'may be the most valuable gift ever extended to the United States from a foreign government.' A White House official reportedly insisted the gift will not 'be presented or gifted' during the President's highly anticipated tour of the region next week. Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar's media spokesman, said in a statement that the 'possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar's Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense.' 'But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made,' the statement added. In his first foreign trip of his second term, Trump will visit Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week. Trump's family business, the Trump Organization, which is now largely run by his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, has vast and growing interests in the Middle East. That includes a new deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar, partnering with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by that country's sovereign wealth fund.
