Trump’s Qatar Air Force One Deal: A Gift or a Shady Deal?
Despite President Trump’s claims, a finalized agreement for transferring Qatar’s Boeing 747-8 to the U.S. Air Force remains elusive due to ongoing legal negotiations. Qatar seeks clarifications ensuring the transfer is explicitly attributed to the Trump administration and absolving them of future ownership responsibilities. This delay stems from concerns surrounding legal liability associated with the administration’s recharacterization of the transaction from a sale to a “gift.” While the deal is not expected to collapse, the ongoing clarifications will likely invite further scrutiny of the administration’s account of the deal’s origins. The transfer, once completed, will require extensive retrofitting at a significant cost.
John Q. Hosedrinker