Biden began Qatari AF1 negotiations, not Trump, senator claims
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., recently made headlines by claiming that negotiations with Qatar over a $400 million Air Force One temporary replacement gift actually began under the Biden administration, not after President Donald Trump took office. In a recent interview on CNN, Mullin stated, “What no one is talking about is [that] this same 747 has been in negotiations for a year.”
According to Mullin, the Biden administration initiated conversations with Qatar about the potential gift as a backup for Air Force One, which is currently about 40 years old. He highlighted the urgent need for a replacement as the previous backup plane was retired due to structural issues.
During a conversation with the Qataris, Mullin obtained information about the reported Biden-era negotiations. He emphasized that the media may not have been aware of these discussions and gave them “a pass” for not knowing.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani downplayed the controversy surrounding the gift, stating in an interview with Fox News that Qatar had originally purchased the plane from Boeing, an American company. He dismissed accusations that Qatar was trying to buy influence, calling them “really unfair.”
In response to allegations of corrupt intent in accepting the gift, Trump clarified that the Boeing 747 would be given to the United States Air Force and Department of Defense, not to himself. He emphasized the cost savings for the U.S. and highlighted the historical precedent of accepting gifts from foreign governments, such as the Statue of Liberty from France in the 1870s.
Despite concerns raised by Democrats like Rep. Ritchie Torres about potential violations of the Emoluments Clause, Trump defended the acceptance of the gift and underscored the importance of having a temporary replacement for Air Force One.
In the midst of the debate, it was revealed that the U.S. had received gifts from foreign governments in the past, such as a teardrop-shaped sculpture from Russian President Vladimir Putin after the 9/11 attacks. The sculpture, which memorialized the victims, was later modified by Bayonne officials to remove Putin’s name following his invasion of Ukraine.
Fox News Digital reached out to a representative for Biden for comment on the matter. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the issue of the Qatar gift will be resolved.
