this post was submitted on 12 May 2025
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Summary

Trump lashed out at bipartisan critics after reports revealed he plans to accept a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One.

In a Truth Social post, Trump dismissed concerns as “world class losers” complaining about a transparent gift. Qatar stated the plane is under legal review between its Ministry of Defense and the Pentagon.

Critics, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Chris Murphy, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, accused Trump of corruption and violating the Constitution.

Even allies like Laura Loomer led the MAGA pushback to the jet deal.

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[–] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 218 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Besides the obvious corruption, it's a national security issue. I'm not an aircraft designer, but I'm pretty sure there's quite a bit of electronics aboard that craft. Pretty easy to slip in a few listening devices.

[–] caffinatedone@lemmy.world 81 points 1 day ago (1 children)

To be fair, the trump crew don't observe any real security anyway, so all of the more competent competent competitors likely already know our secrets.

I mean, assuming that trump doesn't just tweet them out, he'd absolutely sell our secrets for some graft.

[–] Bouzou@lemmy.world 28 points 1 day ago

Or members of his cabinet just accidentally add foreign agents to classified chats...

[–] Dultas@lemmy.world 47 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Not to mention the refit to include all the secure communication equipment Air Force One has. Also ECM, active countermeasures, NBC equipment, refuelling, etc.

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 points 19 hours ago

its around 2.6billion. and he might ask for more than 1 plane i bet.

[–] Damage@feddit.it 22 points 1 day ago

And then remove part of it a year later when it transfers to him

[–] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Realistically, it would probably cost more to retrofit a plane than to just build it from scratch.

[–] DoubleSpace@lemm.ee 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It is a decade or more to build.

[–] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 1 points 14 hours ago

Indeed.

It's peak Trump; it starts out criminal, and then veers into wildly stupid, with stops for complete insanity and horrible bad taste.

Slightly off topic. This video shows Obama and Jerry Seinfeld sitting in the actual Presidential limo. When you see it in the movies the back seat roomy enough for four adults. In actuality, the armor makes the interior tight for two folks.

https://youtu.be/UM-Q_zpuJGU

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca 1 points 22 hours ago

Air force one is not a plane it's just the cal sign of any air force plane the president is on. Executive one is any commercial plane the president is on.

[–] Typotyper@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Why does only NBC get their equipment added and not the other TV stations

[–] Dultas@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago

Because that's the station The Apprentice was on. /s

Incase people don't know NBC stands for Nuclear, Biological, Chemical.

[–] But_my_mom_says_im_cool@lemmy.world 25 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

That was my first though, that airplane is gonna have a direct line to the government of Qatar

[–] Zenith@lemm.ee 5 points 1 day ago

If nothing else you can basically guarantee it will be traceable

[–] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The more you think about it, the stupider the idea is.

Besides the obvious security problems, Air Force 1 is to a regular plane what a Formula One racer is to a regular car. Someone else pointed out things like counter-surveillance measures, refueling, etc etc.

It would be twice as expensive to retrofit it.

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world -2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Air Force 1 is to a regular plane what a Formula One racer is to a regular car

Achshually. Air Force 1 is used to refer to any Air Force aircraft the president travels on. That's why it's taken off more times than it's landed.

[–] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 4 points 1 day ago
[–] Zenith@lemm.ee -5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

And those planes aren’t normal off the lot planes, they’re especially not normal off the lot planes “gifted” by the Saudi’s so what’s your point, just felt being pedantic would get you some attention?

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 5 points 20 hours ago

Is just a fun little fact that Air Force 1 isn't a plane.

[–] Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de 37 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm sure Qatar sees him saying "yeah, then it'll be mine" and are thinking 'nooo, we wanted all the presidents to use it...'

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 53 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Then you're not up to speed....

January 2029 it transfers to the "trump presidential library" so he can keep using it.

It's not even to "the office" it's a personal gift to trump.

[–] Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm often not up to speed. I guess we just wait to see what this buys them?

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago

It's the same country that was/is bribing Eric Adams...

They have so much oil money (exported 24 billion worth in 2022) that they just throw money at anyone that will take it.

400 million just isn't that much money to them where they need to have an immediate payout.

They're in the top 10 wealthiest royal families, and that's just what legal money is on the books

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] mkhopper@lemmy.world 23 points 1 day ago

But, would that be so bad?