Full story
Qatari Jet to Ireland
President Donald Trump plans to fly to Ireland next week aboard the Boeing 747 donated by Qatar, despite concerns over its security and unfinished upgrades, a senior White House official told The Independent.
“The trip, set for September 12 and 13”
The trip is set for September 12 and 13 and will mark Trump’s first international journey on the Qatari jet since U.S. officials secretly moved him to another plane while departing July’s NATO summit in Turkey after intelligence indicated a potential Iranian threat.
Trump said on Friday that the jet would be “maxed out,” adding, “to max it out, meaning you can go into any territory, it'll take about 60 days, and it's being sent in October to be maximum.”
The Independent reported that the administration has said work on the Qatari jet would begin this fall and take about a month, while officials have not said when it will start.
White House Defends
A senior administration official told ABC News, “We don't comment on specific upgrades or modifications to Air Force Once,” while also saying the White House “routinely evolve[s] the capability as required to maintain that posture.”
ABC News reported that Trump told reporters in July the plane was going to be “maxed out,” describing the process as “in about a month or so,” and sources said it was not clear whether the security enhancement had been completed.
The New York Times said the Qatari jet’s defensive capabilities came into question after Trump last used it on a foreign trip to the NATO summit in Turkey in July, when officials learned of a threat and prompted a switch.
Trump, speaking Friday, reiterated the timeline for upgrades, saying, “it'll take about 60 days and it's being sent in October to be maxed out,” as the administration declined to comment on specific upgrades or modifications.
Security, Travel, and Timing
The Independent reported that the Qatari plane was rushed into presidential service this summer as a temporary replacement for the aging aircraft traditionally used as Air Force One, while Boeing builds two new Air Force One jets.
“The Government Accountability Office estimating the program will cost more than $5.6 billion”
The Independent said the Government Accountability Office estimated the replacement programme will cost more than $5.6 billion, and it noted that security experts raised questions with The New York Times over whether the Qatari jet has all the advanced defensive capabilities of older presidential aircraft.
The New York Times reported that Trump said last year the Qatari plane would go to his planned presidential library in Miami, and on Friday Trump said, “It'll probably go to the museum. Probably...I haven't made a decision, but it will probably go to the museum. It's scheduled to go to the museum.”
The Independent also said Trump’s Ireland trip is expected to include meetings in Dublin with Irish President Catherine Connolly and Prime Minister Micheál Martin, as well as a visit to his golf resort in Doonbeg for the Irish Open.