Photos: YouTube Screenshots
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to reports that President Trump is accepting a $400 million luxury jet to replace Air Force One — the most valuable gift ever given to a U.S. president by a foreign country — dubbed the “Flying Palace” for its over-the-top opulence, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) issued the following statement:
“Trump’s latest instance of corruption is a slap in the face. As working families struggle to make rent and pay for groceries, Trump continues to focus on lining his and his billionaire buddies’ pockets. Accepting a nearly half billion-dollar luxury aircraft raises untold ethical questions about Trump’s relationships with foreign governments. We must also investigate the serious national security concerns this could bring.
“This gift raises serious ethical questions and poses significant national security risks. From Air Force One, the president can manage sensitive military operations, negotiate peace treaties, and travel to war zones. It is built within specific security protocols like withstanding nuclear blasts, EMPs, and more. It is wholly unacceptable that the president would consider spending the remainder of his term in a ‘flying White House’ built by a foreign country. The chance for serious security catastrophes is through the roof and in the stratosphere.
“Let’s call it what it is: corruption in ‘plane’ sight.”
