Trump Secures $200 Billion Boeing-Qatar Deal, Highlighting New Diplomatic Approach Through Aviation
President Trump on Wednesday announced a $200 billion agreement between Qatar Airways and Boeing, providing a boost to the struggling American aerospace company and highlighting his administration’s diplomatic approach.
The agreement, formalized in Doha during the President’s visit, involves Qatar Airways, which is state-owned, purchasing 160 Boeing airplanes.
“It’s over $200 billion, but 160 in terms of the jets. That’s fantastic,” Trump stated at the signing ceremony, accompanied by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg.
The deal offers a positive development for Boeing, which has experienced a decline in performance. The manufacturer saw a 60% decrease in orders last year due to various challenges, including a significant incident involving an Alaska Airlines 737 Max and a lengthy machinists’ strike that disrupted production for almost three months. Although a slight recovery began at the end of the year, Trump’s trade policies posed a threat to further progress, as tariffs could substantially raise the cost of American aircraft for international buyers.
For Trump, the signing in Doha was significant not only for supporting U.S. manufacturing but also for showcasing his interest in aviation, an area where his roles as a businessman, President, and negotiator converge. He has long referred to his own Boeing 757 as “Trump Force One” and is now considering an even more prominent airborne symbol of his power: a luxury jet offered by Qatar as a temporary Air Force One.
Trump has considered accepting a Qatari-owned 747-8 jet, luxuriously equipped and previously used by a high-ranking Qatari official, as a temporary replacement for the current presidential aircraft. This proposal, which Trump justified as a cost-saving measure, has sparked controversy in Washington, with critics citing ethical, legal, and security concerns.
“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He portrayed the offer as a gesture of goodwill from Qatar, but critics view it as another instance of foreign influence affecting American governance.
Security experts have warned that the Qatari aircraft would need extensive modifications to meet U.S. military standards, including defenses against nuclear and missile attacks.
Intelligence officials have cautioned about the potential risks of retrofitting an aircraft owned by a foreign entity, a process that would involve dismantling the plane’s luxurious interior to check for any hidden espionage devices. NBC News reported that this process could cost over $1 billion and take several years.
Legal experts have also raised concerns about the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prevents federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without the approval of Congress.
The Qatar-Boeing agreement is the most recent in a series of significant aviation deals signed during Trump’s four-day visit to the Middle East. Just a day prior, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund signed a $4.8 billion agreement with Boeing, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed a $10 billion order from a British airline, as part of the administration’s broader effort to increase American exports.
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