馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
US bids farewell to Air Force One as Trump's Qatari jet prepares for service
via Punch Nigeria10 min read
White House officials on Thursday bid farewell to one of the two jets that have transported US presidents for over 30 years. This move has fueled speculation that a Boeing 747, reportedly gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar, is set to enter service. Trump's communications director, Steven Cheung, and US Chief of Protocol, Monica Crowley, posted farewell messages on X, with Crowley noting the aircraft's nearly 40 years of service to every president since George H.W. Bush. The aging aircraft is one of two heavily modified 747s, known as VC-25As, designated as Air Force One when the president is aboard. Trump is reportedly considering using the new Qatari jet for a trip to Mount Rushmore next month. The US Air Force confirmed that the Qatari plane, referred to as the VC-25B Bridge aircraft, will soon join the active executive airlift fleet. Qatar's gift of the jet has raised ethical and constitutional questions regarding foreign gifts to a president, as well as security concerns about using a foreign-donated aircraft for presidential travel. Trump has expressed his desire to replace the current Air Force One jets and stated that the Qatari plane will eventually be donated to his future presidential library. The US government also has a contract with Boeing for two new 747-8 aircraft, but this program has experienced delays and cost overruns.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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