[By Guancha Observer Network, Ruan Jiaqi]

Trump is very displeased about being relentlessly questioned regarding the alleged gift of a luxury jet from Qatar. According to reports from The New York Times, ABC, and others on the 12th, when asked about the moral controversy surrounding the acceptance of a $400 million luxury aircraft from Qatar at a press conference on Monday morning, Trump frowned and snapped back, saying only "idiots" would refuse such a gift.

Trump defended himself by stating that this gift from Qatar was intended for the U.S. Department of Defense and not for him personally. He insisted that he will not use this aircraft after leaving office as president. Trump emphasized that this aircraft will be retired from military use and directly handed over to his presidential library, which will eventually be established for him.

He said, "I think this is a great move by Qatar. I am very grateful. I will never be the kind of person who refuses such an offer. I mean, if I say 'no, we don't want a free, very expensive plane,' then I would be an idiot."

Trump further added that he believed the gift of the aircraft from Qatar was a response to the protection provided by the United States. "In fact, we have been helping protect it (Qatar) and some of its neighboring countries in the Middle East... for many years, we have provided them with a lot of help in terms of security assurance."

"Without us, they may not be able to survive now. I think this is just a gesture of goodwill," he said.

Trump has repeatedly complained about delays and cost overruns in the contract for two new Air Force One aircraft signed with Boeing. In 2018, Trump signed a contract with Boeing, planning to deliver the new aircraft in 2024. However, due to shortages of personnel, design and manufacturing issues, and supply chain problems, the delivery has been repeatedly delayed.

At the press conference, he once again mentioned this matter, "You know, we are very disappointed with how long Boeing has taken to build the new Air Force One. Our current Air Force One has more than 40 years of history."

He also complained that this is another "mess" he inherited from his predecessor Biden.

On local time the 12th, Trump attended a press conference. ABC video screenshot.

When an ABC reporter continued to press the question, "What would you say to those who view the luxury aircraft as your personal gift?" Trump became completely enraged, yelling "fake news" (false news).

Trump told the journalist, "You are fake news from ABC, right? Let me tell you, you should feel ashamed for asking this question. They gave us a free plane. I could say, 'No, no, no, don't give it to us. I'd rather pay you $1 billion, or $400 million, or whatever.' I could also say, 'Thank you very much.'"

Then, Trump used the example of golf, citing the motto of golf legend Sam Snead to argue forcefully. Trump said, "Remember what Sam said, 'When someone offers you a free putt, take it, move to the next hole, and say thank you very much.'"

After throwing out this statement, Trump picked up the pen he had just thrown on the table and continued signing documents, ignoring the relentless follow-up questions from the journalists.

According to the introduction of the golf website "Champ Golf" and others, a "free putt" usually refers to the "gimme" in informal matches, where when the ball is extremely close to the hole (such as within 2-3 feet), opponents allow players to pick up the ball and count it as holed without actually putting. This practice is common in casual matches or friendly games among friends.

ABC video screenshot.

According to previous reports by American media, Trump will receive one of the most valuable foreign gifts in history - a Boeing 747-8 aircraft gifted by the royal family of Qatar, which will be converted into the presidential aircraft "Air Force One", which has been repeatedly delayed in delivery by Boeing.

However, according to insiders, this aircraft may be given to the Trump Presidential Library for his post-presidency use after he leaves office. This has sparked public质疑 about potential conflicts of interest and ethical issues, as well as violations of the law. Democrats quickly seized upon this issue to accuse Trump of bribery.

On the evening of the 11th, Trump confirmed this matter on his self-created social media platform "Truth Social". He wrote, "In fact, the Department of Defense received a 747 aircraft as a gift to temporarily replace the 'Air Force One' with 40 years of history, and the transaction was very open and transparent, which made the corrupt Democrats very angry, insisting that we pay a high price for this aircraft."

ABC cited insider information stating that the Office of White House Legal Counsel and the Department of Justice anticipated that this extremely unusual and unprecedented arrangement would raise questions. They have prepared an analysis report for Secretary of Defense Hargis, concluding that it is legal for the Department of Defense to accept this aircraft as a gift and transfer it to the Trump Presidential Library, and this does not violate anti-bribery laws or the constitutional prohibition against any U.S. government official accepting "gifts from any king, prince, or foreigner".

According to CNN reports, on Monday, White House Press Spokesperson Caroline Levitt stated that the legal details regarding the acceptance of the aircraft from Qatar are still being handled. She emphasized that "any donation to this administration is carried out entirely in accordance with the law."

When pressed about whether this "gift" required any return from the U.S. side, Levitt denied it while praising Trump. She said, "Absolutely not. Because they understand President Trump and know that everything he does is for the benefit of the American public."

Aside from the transparency controversy, there are also concerns about safety and funding. Politico quoted former U.S. Air Force officials and members of Congress as reporting that in order to transform this aircraft into an "Airborne White House" equipped with secure communication devices and confidential upgrades for safe presidential use, it would require a private contractor to thoroughly renovate it. This is a costly and complex task that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

"This is not really a gift," said Joe Courtney, Democratic leader of a small group within the House Armed Services Committee and representative of Connecticut, "basically you have to strip the plane down to its frame and rebuild it to meet all the requirements for survivability, security, and communication for 'Air Force One'. It's a huge project, and there is no source of funding."

A source from the U.S. law enforcement department also told CNN that the internal Special Service Bureau considered the gift of an aircraft by a foreign government for use by the U.S. President as a "security nightmare".

He explained, "(The U.S. Air Force) must dismantle the aircraft, search for surveillance equipment, and inspect the integrity of the aircraft."

This article is an exclusive contribution from the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7503748496734863906/

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