“Nothing Private”: Qatar PM Dismisses Issues Over Trump Jet Reward Provide
Qatar’s provide to donate a luxurious jet to the USA was not a private reward to President Donald Trump however a “government-to-government transaction,” the Gulf nation’s prime minister stated Wednesday.
Trump, whose Center East journey included a cease Wednesday in Qatar, has confronted an uproar again at house since press stories revealed he was contemplating utilizing the jet as Air Pressure One — and would doubtlessly proceed to make use of it after leaving workplace.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani downplayed these issues, telling CNN in an interview he didn’t know why it had turn out to be such large information.
“It’s a government-to-government transaction. It has nothing to do with personnel, whether or not it is on the US aspect or on the Qatari aspect, it is the Ministry of Protection and Division of Protection,” he stated, echoing the White Home’s response to the backlash.
He additionally dismissed allegations that Qatar was utilizing the reward as a approach of influencing Trump, saying it reasonably attempting to assist clear up its US ally’s issues.
“Qatar has been at all times a dependable associate for the US, has been at all times stepping as much as assist and help the US, as a result of we imagine that this friendship must be mutually useful for each international locations, can’t be a one-way relationship,” Sheikh Mohammed stated.
He added that in any case, the provide was “nonetheless below authorized overview.”
Trump has repeatedly complained of delays and value overruns in aerospace large Boeing’s contract to offer two new Air Pressure One jets to switch the present ageing fashions.
Below questioning from reporters on Monday, Trump angrily defended the association with Qatar, saying he could be “silly” to not settle for such a present.
However the plan has raised main moral questions, because the US Structure prohibits authorities officers from accepting items “from any King, Prince or overseas State.”
It has additionally raised deep safety issues about utilizing a aircraft donated by a overseas energy to be used because the ultra-sensitive Air Pressure One. The jet is designed to function a cell command heart for the president in case of an assault on America.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
