US President Donald Trump rejected ethical concerns about his plan to accept a plane as a gift from the Royal Qatari family, saying on Monday that it would be “stupid” to refuse generous offer.
The American luxury plane of $ 400 million, which would be equipped with the Air Force One, would be one of the most precious gifts ever received by the US government. The news of the offer has aroused immediate criticism from Democrats and defenders of good government, who warned that it was a conflict of interest that could influence presidential decisions.
Trump said that the Boeing 747-8 plane would finally be given to his presidential library – a benchmark research material of his administration – and that he did not intend to use it for personal reasons after leaving his functions.
“I think it is a big gesture of Qatar. I appreciate it very much. I would never be the type to refuse this kind of offer,” Trump told journalists in the White House before leaving for a trip to the Middle East.
“I mean, I could be a stupid person saying,” No, we don’t want a free and very expensive plane. “”
The Republican President awarded gratitude for American aid in the defense of the countries of the region, notably Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, all stop on his route this week.
Trump also said that it was a practical decision and that it was disappointed that Boeing took so long to deliver the planes of the New Force Air Force One that he ordered during his first mandate as president.
Probably unconstitutional, say criticism
The criticism of the offer said that it was contrary to ethics and probably unconstitutional.
Democratic senators Brian Schatz, Chris Murphy, Cory Booker and Chris Coons said in a statement that Trump’s acceptance of such a gift would create a clear conflict of interest, would raise serious national security questions and invite foreign influence.
Representative Joe Courtney of Connecticut, the House Seapower House Sub-Comeding and Projection Forces, said that she is distracting the efforts of the American Air Force to accelerate the delivery of the new Air Force fleet.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that legal details surrounding the donation were still being developed and that Trump administration was not worried about what the Qataris could ask in return.
