Offer to gift Trump an aircraft is ‘normal thing’ between allies, Qatar’s PM says
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The motorcade of US President Donald Trump is parked next to a 12-year old Qatari-owned Boeing 747-8 that the Gulf state offered to gift Mr Trump, taken in February.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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DUBAI - Qatar’s offer to gift US President Donald Trump a Boeing 747-8 airplane is a “normal thing that happens between allies”, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on May 20 at an economic forum held in Doha.
Sheikh Mohammed dismissed concerns about Qatar trying to buy influence with its key ally, after US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer introduced a Bill on May 9 that would prevent any foreign aircraft operating as Air Force One
“I hope that the United States looks to Qatar as a reliable partner in diplomacy that is not trying to buy influence,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
Mr Trump shrugged off ethical concerns
He said the Boeing 747-8 would eventually be donated to his presidential library – a repository housing research materials from his administration, and that he had no plans to use it for personal reasons after leaving office. REUTERS
