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That went to hell in a hand basket quickly............

Trump unveils Qatari luxury jet for Air Force One fleet

President Donald Trump has unveiled a new Boeing 747-8 jet for Air Force One that the Qatari government donated last year as an "unconditional" gift to the US.

The US military has finished modifications to the luxury jumbo jet, which has been valued at an estimated $400m (£300m).

"This plane was transformed into a flying White House at a level of luxury that nobody's ever seen before," Trump said in a speech at Joint Base Andrews on Friday.

The US Air Force said in a press release that the jet will begin initial commissioning flights - a "final exam" to test out the aircraft's modifications - before it will be used to transport the president.

Modifications to the jet included upgrades in security, mission communications, logistics support, and advanced technology, the Air Force said. Any potential threats from the previously owned aircraft have been "neutralised", it added.

The interiors of the aircraft have been minimally changed, and the exterior has received a fresh red, white, blue and gold paint job.

In May 2025, the Qatari royal family donated the luxury Boeing 747-8 to the US Department of Defense to be used as part of a fleet of planes dubbed Air Force One, which provides air transport for the president.

When news of the gift of the plane was revealed last year, it sparked backlash from both sides of the aisle, including from some Trump allies. Critics argued that accepting such a high-value donation posed a conflict of interest and may be unconstitutional.

While federal law indicates that US officials can only accept gifts under $480, the White House has insisted that accepting the aircraft is legal, and pledged that it will be donated to Trump's presidential library once he leaves office.

"The workmanship of this plane is when you see it, you won't believe it," Trump said in his speech.

"Actually, the quality of woods, the quality of the materials, the quality of the engines - these engines are the finest, they're the best in the world, nothing like it."

"It's really an honour," the president added. "And I want to thank the Emir of Qatar."

Prior to the addition of the Qatari jet, the Air Force One fleet included two 747-200B jets that have been in use since 1990. One of those older models appears to have now been phased out, according to White House communications director Steven Cheung.

"'Well done, good and faithful servant'", Cheung wrote on X, alongside a photo of the older plane. "The Last Ride," he added.

The Air Force said the new jet will be used by the president on an interim basis until Boeing delivers its two long-promised VC-25B jets, which are meant for longer-term Air Force One use but have faced significant production delays.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8kz80n157o

Somewhere in Trumplandia it is believed that a gift to the US Department of Defense, that taxpayers paid millions upon millions to upgrade is a personal gift the the Trump Presidential library. If that's the case, it was trump himself who accepted a personal gift worth about 400 million dollars from Qatar.

Being wrong about the timeline doesn't mean he was wrong about everything else.

I agree. Not only would it be stupid to not take a look, but it would also be a dereliction of duty.

DAILY DOUBLE

This is what happens when you put all your eggs in one basket .. Dolans are just to cheap .. If they would just go out and pay for one legitimate bat ! God for bid two //

How low will he go...?

https://people.com/italian-pm-giorg...t-she-begged-for-photo-with-him-12003115


Italian PM Giorgia Meloni Says She's 'Frankly Astonished' by Trump's 'Made Up' Story That She 'Begged' for Photo with Him

"Neither I nor Italy ever beg," Meloni said in a video shared on social media

By Rachel Raposas Published on June 19, 2026 11:56AM EDT

NEED TO KNOW
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Donald Trump's claim that she "begged" for a photo at the G7 Summit "completely fabricated"

"Neither I nor Italy ever beg," Meloni said in a video shared on social media
Following Trump's comments, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled his U.S. trip, saying Trump's remarks "offend all of Italy"

Giorgia Meloni has fired back at Donald Trump's claim that she "begged" him for a photo at the G7 Summit.

On Friday, June 19, the Italian Prime Minister denounced the United States president's claim that she'd urged him to take a photo with her during this week's G7 Summit as "completely fabricated." In a video shared to X, Meloni conveyed both her and Italy's offense to Trump's claims.

“I am frankly stunned,” she said in Italian. “I don't know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this isn't the first time this has happened.”

“I can only say it is regrettable that he does not show the same determination against the enemies of the West and the United States—against leaderships with whom he actually proves to be much more accommodating," she continued.

“There is one thing he must remember," Meloni concluded. "Neither I nor Italy ever beg."

The Italian Prime Minister's rebuke comes after Trump told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni "begged me to take a photo with her — I could have skipped it, but I felt sorry for her," NBC News reported. He added, "She's probably happy I talked to her. I didn't have to talk to her."

Meloni wasn't the only Italian politician apparently offended by Trump's comments. Just before the prime minister posted the video on social media, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani shared on X that he was canceling his planned trip to the U.S. this weekend.

In the statement, Tajani noted that the U.S. president had angered Italy as a whole.

"President Trump's serious and offensive remarks about Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy," Tajani wrote. "For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for June 21st and 22nd."

There's a history of friction between Trump and Meloni, especially in recent years. Earlier in April, Meloni defended Pope Leo XIV's anti-war comments after Trump verbally attacked the religious figure, and called the U.S. president's statements "unacceptable." Trump responded of Meloni, "It's her who's unacceptable," because she wouldn't support the U.S. war in Iran.

However, in October 2025, while speaking at the Gaza summit in Egypt, Trump went on an awkward tangent about Meloni's appearance, repeatedly calling her "beautiful."

"Where is she ... there she is," Trump said, looking at Meloni. "You don't mind being called beautiful, right? You are."

After further reflection.............



MAGA = Make Algae Great Again?

I don't know if any you and I hear on the radio are AI but this is one that has had millions of streams on Spotify and Youtube

I cannot say everyone who is older has osteoarthritis.

But it is common. Known as wear and tear arthritis that goes along with aging.

Spinal stenosis is another common back pain issue. All is fine walking but standing still for any length of time and lower back pain comes on.

I have gone to a spinal clinic and had numerous epidurals. Temporary fix. Nerve ablation and still no real results.

Motion is lotion. Move or rust.

So I have been swimming for over 15 years. I am doing more yoga back stretches. All of it helps. But there are limits.

AI is useful for very specific back exercises. AI will shorten the time medical advances will progress and some of these age related issues will be better served.

He's fast AND quick without the stereotypical stone-hands that usually plague track-star WRs. He looked good but we just didn't have enough under center and upfront to utilize his talent.

They have same dudes running same systems. OTAs aren't going to make or break their season.

I've addressed are they just supposed to let them already. No they aren't. But we both know that there are other choices than simply carpet bombing civilian neighborhoods which is choosing to intentionally wipe out tens of thousands of innocent civilian lives. I'm not opposing Israel taking actions to protect themselves. I'm pointing out that first of all Netanyahu playing The Boy Who Cried wolf for three decades trying everything he can to get a partner to invade Iran combined with making the choice to defend his nation by intentionally slaughtering all of those civilians is not justifiable by you or anyone else. Nobody forced him to make that decision.

You totally dismissed that point as well as Israel being Iran's neighbor and how they already have nuclear weapons. When you combine that with Netanyahu's war cries which he has been espousing for decades now it only makes sense that Iran would want to be able to respond in kind should the need arise.

That doesn't mean I want them to have a nuclear weapon. It simply means I understand why they want one. None of that means I'm against Israel defending themselves. But look at some of the comments you have made in describing Iran as terrorists. One of those points was slaughtering their own innocent civilians. I'm not sure how you can justify when someone else does it for them.

Just waaay too funny. 🤣

And don't forget: Moms of Liberty is a terrorist group but Antifa is not.

I watched the Browns Jets double overtime playoff game in a large apartment with a bunch of Jets fans. That was fun.

When soccer comes on I am reminded of a Simpson's episode.

Everybody is juiced to watch the game. Then the announcer goes "Taylor passes to Johnson. Johnson passes to Taylor." And it continues with nothing but passes. Then everyone is gone and the passes continue.

I guess if I was raised where that was the game I would be like every soccer fan.

Go Team Go.

I think in general knowledge was power. With pretty much all knowledge at our finger tips I think reasoning will be more powerful. All the knowledge in the world means nothing if you don't know what to do with it.