Mike Pence: Qatar’s plane donation to Trump is not compatible with our national security.
In response to his decision to accept a “luxury jet” from the Qatari government, former Vice President Mike Pence said in a news interview that the gift was not in line with US national security and that Trump should reject it.
“We have to remember who Qatar is. Qatar supports Hamas. This government also supported al-Qaeda. Qatar has even sponsored pro-Hamas demonstrations on American universities across the United States, so I don’t think the idea of accepting a gift is consistent with our security and our intelligence needs,” he added.
“I hope the president reconsiders this,” Pence said.
Trump has reportedly strongly defended his decision to accept the Boeing 747, estimated to be worth $400 million, and has rejected criticism and concerns raised by lawmakers in both parties.
The former vice president of Trump noted that if Qatar wanted to give the United States a gift, it would be better to spend the same amount ($400 million) on the infrastructure of its military bases.
Pence noted that the US Constitution prohibits government officials from accepting gifts from a foreign country.
According to IRNA, Trump confirmed last week that his administration intends to accept a luxury plane donated by the Qatari government worth approximately $400 million and use it to replace the current Air Force One, the US president’s plane, by the end of his presidency.
Reports that Trump intends to accept the donated plane from Qatar have angered Washington. Trump said that accepting the gift makes sense given Boeing’s delay in delivering the new Air Force One aircraft to his administration.
Boeing signed a contract with the US government in 2018 during Trump’s first term to replace the aging Air Force One aircraft. But the delivery of these aircraft has been delayed until at least 2027.