WASHINGTON, May 22 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday made a light-hearted apology to United States (US) President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House, joking that he did not have an aircraft to offer as a gift.
“I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you,” Ramaphosa said during their bilateral meeting and lunch in the Oval Office.
“I wish you did. I’d take it. If your country offered the United States Air Force a plane, I would take it,” Trump replied, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
The exchange came shortly after the Pentagon confirmed that a luxury Boeing 747 jet, gifted by Qatar, had been accepted for use as a future Air Force One.
The plane, reportedly valued at US$400 million, has drawn scrutiny from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers over its ethical and legal implications.
Critics questioned whether such a gift could compromise US diplomatic neutrality or set a troubling precedent in international dealings.
The timing of the Pentagon’s announcement, made while Trump was hosting Ramaphosa, added to the controversy surrounding the issue.
Trump did not address the criticism directly, but the gesture has sparked renewed debate over the transparency of defence and diplomatic protocols.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
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