During yesterday’s Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth refused to disclose the cost of the Qatari jet Trump is buying to replace Air Force One.
Hegseth tried to pretend that revealing details about the jet’s cost to the US taxpayer (yeah) would endanger National Security.
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) demanded to know the facts from Hegseth over the Qatarian payoff.
HEGSETH: There’s a general understanding that you’ve taken possession of this Qatari aircraft, the 747, but there are public reports that Qataris have not yet signed a memorandum of understanding which would specify that the agreement was initiated by the Trump administration and Qatar is not responsible for any future transfers of the plane’s ownership.
REED: Are you in possession of the Qatari airplane now?
HEGSETH: Any specifics about future aircraft that could be Air Force One can’t be discussed here, but there is a conversation about a memorandum of understanding.
REED: A memorandum of understanding remains to be signed, Senator. You’ve signed a contract with a company to reconfigure the aircraft. What is the price of that contract?
HEGSETH: That cannot be revealed in this setting, Senator.
REED: Why can’t it be revealed in this setting? This is the Appropriations Committee of the United States Senate.
REED: We appropriate the money that you will spend after it’s authorized by my committee, and you cannot tell us how much the contract is for?
