DOHA, Qatar — President Trump announced Wednesday that the Qatari government had committed to the “largest order of jets in the history of Boeing” — touting the transaction despite trashing the American company earlier this week for its slowness in delivering a new Air Force One.
Trump said the oil and gas-rich monarchy, which has offered to provide the US president with a luxury “palace on wings,” committed to make more than $200 billion in investments in US companies — including spending $160 billion on the planes.
“We’re going to see some of it in action tomorrow…. it’s going to be an air fair,” Trump said during a meeting with the country’s leaders shortly after he arrived in the ultramodern capital on the shores of the Persian Gulf.
Trump hailed what he called a “very special relationship” with Qatar, even likening one royal to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, calling both men “tall handsome guys.”
Qatar has offered to give Trump a luxuriously upgraded Boeing 747-8 worth an estimated $400 million, drawing bipartisan pushback.
That jet, currently parked in the US, won’t be presented during the visit, the White House says.