United States President Donald Trump refuted, angrily, ethical concerns about accepting a $ 400 million Qatar luxury plane to be used as a new Air Force One, stating that only someone “stupid” would reject such an offer.
“I think it’s a great gesture of Qatar. I appreciate a lot,” said Trump. “I would never refuse this kind of offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, ‘No, we don’t want a free and very expensive plane.’ But I thought – I thought it was a great gesture. ”
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Qatar authorities say the plan for Trump to accept the plane for use as Air Force One while in office is not ready. However, some US officials openly described the act as a process, approved by the White House lawyer and attorney general Pam Bondi. Trump repeatedly complained about delays and costs in a contract with Boeing for two new presidential jets.
But on Monday (12), Trump said that when Qatar’s jet is disabled from military use and delivered to his library at the end of his term, he will not continue to fly him.
He was annoyed by questions about an ethical dilemma, including if Qatar expected something in return for the donation, which he said would be to the Defense Department and not to him personally. Democrats and government control bodies suggested that donation would violate the Constitution’s fees clause and create an incentive structure for Trump about Qatar.
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“You should be ashamed to ask this question,” Trump told a reporter for ABC News who pressed him on the subject. “They are giving us a free jet. I could say, ‘No, no, no, don’t give us. I want to pay you a billion or 400 million dollars, or whatever.’ Or I could say, ‘Thank you very much.’
He then summoned an analogy of golf of accepting a putt Free during a match, suggesting that following rules when you don’t need it is foolish.
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