Trump says US ‘couldn’t build a plane like this’ as Qatari-gifted Air Force One embarks on inaugural flight

President Donald Trump boarding the inaugural flight of the new plane Air Force OneSharing his excitement for the new plane, a luxury jet donated by the government of Qatar, and its foreign makers, he said the United States “can’t build a plane like this.”

“I’m excited for the first flight,” he told reporters ahead of his trip to North Dakota on Wednesday for the America 250 celebration.

The new jet, an unconditional gift estimated to be worth around $400 million, raised legal, ethical and national security issues. The plane has a new color scheme (white, red and dark blue) and other changes that make it similar to the personal jet Trump has used for years.

“They’ve just completed this. They’ve made it fit for a president, which means security and all the different bells and whistles they put on. It’s very complicated right now, but it’s a really important thing,” Trump said.

The plane has been a subject of controversy since it first emerged that Trump would accept it from Qatar. When the president first announced the gift, a person familiar with the matter told CNN the plan was as follows: To donate the plane to Trump’s presidential library after leaving office. There was jet It was officially gifted to the Pentagon. CNN has reached out to the White House about what the final plan is for the plane.

Trump, who is expected to use the jet until a new US-made aircraft is finished in about two years, said “there has never been a plane like this.”

“Frankly, we couldn’t build such a plane because we didn’t want to spend the necessary money. They spent top dollar,” he said of the Qataris.

Trump also revealed on Wednesday that he asked Qatar if he could use its plane “for a while” after Boeing’s president told him it was best. The president said that the emir of Qatar offered to give the plane to the United States.

Trump unveiled the new jet at Joint Base Andrews last month, calling it “the most luxurious plane in the world.” It has leather seats that lie flat and seat belts with the presidential seal. The walls and carpets are tan, and the light fixtures are gold. Reporters on board Wednesday were treated to a ham and cheese croissant, green side salad and fruit, served on traditional gold and white china with the presidential seal.

Last month, White House officials shared on social media Farewell to the heavily modified Boeing 747-200It had been flying as Air Force One since 1990.

The two 747-800s are being modified to VC-25B to fill the role of Air Force One in addition to the Qatar jet to bridge the gap between the older planes and two additional aircraft that Boeing is modifying, which won’t be built for another two years or so.

This headline and story have been updated with additional developments.

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