New details have emerged about the controversial Boeing 747 the Qatari government has gifted to President Donald Trump to be used as the new Air Force One.
According to the Wall Street Journal, many things have been modified to support the president — but one thing that has remained mostly the same is the over-the-top opulent luxury interior.
“The jet has undergone a $400 million overhaul to prepare it for the president. Those modifications, however, haven’t centered on aesthetics, but rather top-secret communications gear that would enable the commander in chief to run the country from the skies,” said the report. “Alterations to the interior have focused on removing the Arabic-language exit signs and the contemporary artwork once enjoyed by the Qatari royals. But the oversize leather seats, plush couches and even the faux library bookcases are all staying, albeit with U.S. presidential seals now affixed to the walls, officials said.”
Ultimately, said the report, the interior fixtures “will be notably more opulent than the current Air Force One, which is known for its smaller dated domestic business-class seats and utilitarian conference rooms.”
There will be additional differences that limit exactly what the new Air Force One can do, the report continued.
“Unlike the current Air Force One, which has a dedicated press cabin, the media seating arrangements will be different on the Qatari plane. Since building walls would have delayed the delivery of the plane, the press seating will be separated from staff seats by a thick curtain,” said the report. “Also, the new Qatari jet won’t be able to fly ‘Golden Eagle’ missions — the name given to flights carrying the remains of a former president onboard. White said that limitation is the result of officials opting not to install larger doors in the rear of the aircraft.”
The gifting of the plane to the Trump administration has been massively controversial from the start, as it raises questions about whether Trump will trade favors to the Qatari government.
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