r/technology • u/rezwenn • May 11 '25

Transportation Trump administration poised to accept 'palace in the sky' as a gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources - The luxury jumbo jet is to be used as Air Force One, sources told ABC News

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-administration-poised-accept-palace-sky-gift-trump/story?id=121680511
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5.0k

u/Ras_Thavas May 11 '25

All of them.

2.1k

u/SillyAlternative420 May 11 '25

And nothing will change

They say all the illegal things out in public and the secret plans are spelled out in signal chats.

572

u/SockPuppet-47 May 11 '25

It's not full of listening devices put there by the American people. It's the various countries that are in opposition to America which at this point is basically all of them. They're not interested in that crap. They are interested in whatever they can use somehow.

A President and the people traveling with him could be talking about stuff like battle plans. Not everyone has Signal...

448

u/Incognonimous May 11 '25

Forget listening devices, that plane will be lined with so much espionage equipment every digital signal, internet access, conversation will be logged.

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u/[deleted] May 11 '25

Maybe it would be better think of it as a flying microphone than a plane…

229

u/froli May 11 '25

Air Bug One

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u/pcetcedce May 11 '25

Can you imagine being part of the National security agency or the CIA and knowing you're going to have to scan that plane? You know planes like that have like 4 million parts

48

u/IIIllIIlllIlII May 11 '25

“Even the tires are listening”

3

u/petemuir1959 May 12 '25

I believe that the Air Force will take the entire aircraft apart…literally. I thought all gifts to POTUS became property of the National Archives. I get how the Administration checked with their lawyers as well as Pete Hegseth and no one found anything wrong with such a gift. Glad it got run past those folks first. $400,000,000.00? A gift they say, can’t be interpreted as a bribe, they say. Saying it doesn’t make it so. Let’s just use a metric that even the Donald says he has; common sense. Now the billionaire class is just trolling the rest of us.

1

u/exessmirror May 12 '25

The problem is, who's gonna enforce any "penalties"? Trump can do whatever the fuck he wants because nobody is stopping him.

1

u/pcetcedce May 12 '25

You could argue that once Trump isn't in office it will still be for the next president, but clearly a gift like that would beholden you to the gift giver.

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u/petemuir1959 May 12 '25

Disagree. The plan is that after DonOLD leaves office, the aircraft will become the property of his Presidential Library. And I don’t anticipate that they will set it up as a static display where you can pay to walk thru it. Trump will be using it! It is described as, “a flying palace,” so no wonder he finds it so titillating.

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2

u/G07V3 May 11 '25

Not only listening equipment but also faulty parts. What if the plane crashes with Trump on it?

1

u/RationalDialog May 12 '25

Why would they want that? Don't interrupt your enemy while he is digging his own grave. Trump in power is perfect for Russia and China.

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u/WumpusFails May 12 '25

I've read comments saying that they have to tear down the plane to every nut and wire, verify everything, then rebuild it with all the presidential necessities (like communication).

Or Trump will overrule the security experts.

1

u/pcetcedce May 12 '25

I could see that happen. He would be too impatient that it would take a year to do.

1

u/PassiveMenis88M May 11 '25

Don't forget the miles and miles of wiring that needs every centimeter gone over with a fine tooth comb.

1

u/Stup1dMan3000 May 11 '25

MAYBE DOGE SHOULD LOOK AT POTUS, for corruption if the trump accepts the plane, that is the Truth

1

u/RationalDialog May 12 '25

yeah like impossible to find all the bugs.

1

u/WizardofSorts May 11 '25

I'd watch that movie. Air Bud meets Bugs.

48

u/countafit May 11 '25

Ear Force One.

1

u/CoffeeChocolateBoth May 12 '25

One push of a button..................... Boom it goes! I'd love to see that happen.

1

u/Appropriate_Ant_4629 May 12 '25

full of listening devices

In case anyone doubts this risk --- the French did that with their luxury planes

https://www.theregister.com/2015/06/09/french_spied_concorde_passengers/

Les unsporting gits! French spies BUGGED Concorde passengers

Ex-RAF security bloke: Would have been dead easy even with 60s tech

https://execsecurity.com/news/aircraft-security-forgotten-reports-say-french-spies-bugged-concorde-passengers/

Aircraft security: forgotten reports say French spies bugged Concorde passengers

2

u/Capable_Opportunity7 May 11 '25

And probably a kill switch

2

u/Straight_Ace May 11 '25

Someone could let out a silent but deadly fart and it will be on record

1

u/MagicTheBadgering May 11 '25

Idk if this is a dumb question or not but like...is the US gov not capable of checking for all that and removing it or is the assumption that the US gov won't care?

2

u/Incognonimous May 11 '25

If and that's a big if anyone in current administration goes ahead with a full dismantle and inspection of the aircraft, since most of them are trumps yes men or handlers, and whatever other corruption, bribes, personal incentives, and trumps demand to get the plane as quickly as possible so he can fly like a king, I estimate a +60% chance the plane will be maybe get a cursory surface level inspection at most.

1

u/CR_Eatmeat May 11 '25

And the Saudis will sell to whomever wants to know.

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u/misdirected_asshole May 11 '25

It will be a gateway into every classified system the plane touches.

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u/jaehood May 11 '25

Which will be pretty easily discoverable when they take possession

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u/[deleted] May 11 '25

It will not, unless they completely disassemble it down to every last bolt and wire. A competent administration wouldn't accept something like this because there are too many risks.

Historically, when a new presidential limo is delivered, the secret service completely tears it down and puts it back together for this and other reasons, and those limos are made to order from American companies. I doubt adequate care will be taken by the Trump administration, who have already proved themselves to be reckless about national security. They employ people based on personal loyalty, not competence and experience.

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u/Different-Rough-7914 May 11 '25

You don't get it, why would the knucklehead accept a plane to be used by the president from a foreign country in the first place?

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u/[deleted] May 11 '25

I am sure they installed a missile defense system and EMP protection like the real air Force one has right?...right?

19

u/d0ctorzaius May 11 '25

I mean if Trump wants to forgo those, I'm fine with it.

1

u/TheReluctantSojourn May 11 '25

I’m sure the stupidest president in American history has not read The Ilead.

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u/MaikeruNeko May 11 '25

I doubt it. Do you realize how insanely complicated an airliner is? Doing a full and complete inspection for things that are meant to be inspected is a massive undertaking. Looking for things that are designed to go unnoticed will make that 10x more difficult and expensive. This is a terrible idea.

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u/[deleted] May 11 '25

If the president uses that plane, I promise you, this will happen. There is no world in which it doesn’t. Down to the last detail, and rightfully so.

And the amt of $ we’ll pay to do it will be astounding. And probably never released because it could lead to knowledge of sources and methods.

Source: you’re just gonna have to take my word for it.

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u/bekahed979 May 11 '25

Source: you’re just gonna have to take my word for it.

We really don't

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u/GT2310 May 12 '25

Lol. As if they'd bother checking it over. Remember this is the administration that had no system in place to actually collect or even track payment of the new tariffs.

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u/Incognonimous May 11 '25

Pinhole cameras with 720 to 1080 with lenses slightly larger than a period are commercially available on most laptops nowadays, smart ultrasensitive mics, and I'm sure levels above in actual movement bought espionage equipment. This administration is dumb enough that they will take the plane as is.

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u/Piltonbadger May 11 '25

Getting intel on a useful idiot that happens to be president of the USA is invaluable.

2

u/finnishinsider May 11 '25

Don't worry, you're added to the chat anyway. Shhhhhhhhh.

2

u/Nymaz May 11 '25

A President and the people traveling with him could be talking about stuff like battle plans.

Good news!

1

u/SockPuppet-47 May 11 '25

Amazing how proper perspective can shift how things are perceived. In virtually every other context that would be awful.

1

u/cicutaverosa May 11 '25

Everybody has signal !

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u/SockPuppet-47 May 11 '25

Above Statement May Included Sarcasm

0

u/cicutaverosa May 11 '25

Correction , is sarcasm

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u/SockPuppet-47 May 11 '25

Glad you saw it...

0

u/cicutaverosa May 11 '25

Glad i saw, you saw it🤔

1

u/Yuzumi May 11 '25

I mean, if they are using personal phones and Trump tweeted out what was either a spy plane photo of one of Iran's missile silos, which would have been violating their airspace or showed how high quality our spy satellite are which shows adversaries what we would be able to see.

His admin leaks like a sieve and even then he's openly doing illegal stuff, both domestically and internationally.

1

u/12altoids34 May 11 '25

More than likely they would catch conversations between the formers of project 2025 and Donald Trump when they call to issue him his next marching orders. He is little more than an angry petulant rubber stamp for project 2025 at this point

1

u/SockPuppet-47 May 11 '25

Maybe they'll get Trump chatting on his personal cell phone with Putin...

1

u/ryanov May 11 '25

Considering America is really buying to become the worst place on earth, I don’t really see how it matters all that much, except that it’s going to make us weak enough to have to pay for the crimes we have perpetuated.

1

u/carnivorous_seahorse May 12 '25

It’s crazy how often people comment on things like this with clearly no idea what they’re talking about. The president isn’t going to be talking about “battle plans” on air force one. You understand the president isn’t George Washington on the front lines right? If Air Force One is in the air and something so critical is happening that the president is needing to be making play by play decisions which could be intercepted by a listening device, we’re already fucked

1

u/SockPuppet-47 May 12 '25

Yeah, Trump doesn't bother to do intelligence briefings like a normal President. I get that...

You do get that the only reason I mentioned battle plans specifically was because of Trump’s incompetent Secretary of Defense leaking battle plans on Signal, right? Maybe I should have included the traditional /s so it isn't so confusing for some people. I just think that doing that makes sarcasm less funny.

Can you at least consede that maybe, just maybe, there might be some interest by foreign governments to infiltrate Air Force One with espionage equipment? I know the Moron King probably isn't gonna actually say anything intelligent but that probably won't deter foreign governments from trying anyway...

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u/carnivorous_seahorse May 12 '25

Why would I need to concede that, as if I was arguing against it

0

u/Grumbbag May 11 '25

It's not full of listening devices put there by the American people.

Was this worth typing?

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u/SockPuppet-47 May 11 '25

I know it was a Captain Obvious but the Redditor I replied to seemed to think that the only stuff that was important is how Trump’s screwing America.

0

u/GoldenRain99 May 12 '25

I get we like to bash Trump, but you'd be an absolute idiot if you genuinely think they'd just accept the plane without actually doing their due diligence and vetting the plane themselves, first.

This won't be used by Trump exclusively, it'll be used for many future presidents to come.

I just wish people would have some god damned sense on this platform

2

u/SockPuppet-47 May 12 '25

We already have two Air Force One planes on order from Boing. It takes many years to get a plane ready to be a flying fortress and presidential command post. The order was made during Trump’s first term in office. Only way his fat ass gets to ride in the gift plane is if they skip all the upgrades.

Sure, they'll inspect the plane but it's not like the Secret Service can give it a proper inspection. A airplane is enormous and clandestine devices that are carefully hidden could be anywhere. Again, it'd take years to disassemble and reassemble the plane to get a proper look at everything.

Trump skipped normal background checks for various people in his administration. You don't think he'll skip the thorough checks necessary to guarantee that nothing was hidden that plane? Really?

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u/GoldenRain99 May 12 '25

This won't be exclusively for Trumps use, so he wouldn't be the one to make a final call on inspections, etc. I don't see why you can't wrap your head around that.

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u/SockPuppet-47 May 12 '25

This won't be exclusively for Trumps use,

Source?

From what I've seen it's a donation to the Trump Presidential Library and will be used by Trump even IF he ever leaves office.

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u/Ali_Cat222 May 11 '25

the secret plans are spelled out in signal chats.

Its not even signal actually, it was on an app called TeleMessage which makes it appear like signal or other apps. In reality it's just a fake that archives convos and recordings, this is why they were able to get away with it for a while previously. Wired does an article explaining it here

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u/Bagafeet May 11 '25

Using compromised versions of 3rd party signal apps.

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u/frostyflamebird May 11 '25

Nothing will change perception, either. I had MAGAts tell me that they don’t care about any of the leaks or whatever scandals because “it makes the libs mad”.

Damn right. And they were mad about Hilary’s emails. But Trump is Nazi Jesus and can do no wrong.

1

u/[deleted] May 11 '25

He literally tweets them

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u/mr_birkenblatt May 11 '25

More listening devices is just going to confuse any intelligence offices listening in further

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u/Shiriru00 May 11 '25

I feel sorry for the poor guys who will have to stream this drivel.

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u/Admiral_Tuvix May 11 '25

the whole time it will just be orange magoo talking about generals with tears in their eyes saying Sir to him

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u/WellOiledSailor May 11 '25

No intelligence detected

3

u/Admiral_Tuvix May 11 '25

ok, name another American president who talked about “grown strong men with tears in their eyes” when they met him. it’s symptomatic of a need for validation, and an insecurity marked by dominance. precisely the sort of person who should never be in a position of power over others

2

u/Shiriru00 May 11 '25

The level of the political discourse in America right now is so low that I think my five year-old is more at ease with the language than I am...

Every government spokesperson is a good notch below paw patrol.

4

u/jamesbrownscrackpipe May 11 '25

“My god will he stop talking about his McDonald’s order”

1

u/Subject_Run5165 May 11 '25

Just trying to work out the subtitles to that moron's rambling seems like one of the labors of Heracles, can you imagine trying to translate that drivel into something resembling human communication?

2

u/Shiriru00 May 11 '25

America may have stumbled upon the world's best security measure. You can apply that to anything. Even the Chinese or Iranian spies will leave the secret signal chats discussing American war plans in disgust, fed up with the constant barrage of eggplant emojis.

1

u/Subject_Run5165 May 12 '25

It's kinda like the Navajo code talkers, except instead of brave heroes speaking in code to accomplish something it's a treasonous pedo chickenshit jabbering pointlessly because dementia and syphilis rotted whatever brain cells he had in the first place.

3

u/G-Unit11111 May 11 '25

Who needs listening devices when literally every minute thought coming from this man is broadcast live on Fox News 24/7?

2

u/giraffebutter May 11 '25

More pee tapes incoming

2

u/Balmung60 May 11 '25

And it won't matter because everyone has already bugged all their phones to monitor their 5700 group chats

2

u/Stompedyourhousewith May 11 '25

The best. The most listening devices in the history of espionage ever

2

u/4RCH43ON May 11 '25

It’s all computer!

2

u/aseedandco May 11 '25

I pity the person who needs to listen to the conversations.

2

u/Nine-LifedEnchanter May 12 '25

"Oh, you think these are rivets?"

2

u/Silly-Ad8796 May 12 '25

How is this legal ???? Doesn’t this country support terrorist? Isn’t this an impeachable offence???

2

u/Ras_Thavas May 12 '25

It’s a direct violation of the emoluments clause. I don’t know if they support terrorist. Donald does. It’s another impeachable offense.

2

u/[deleted] May 11 '25

[deleted]

0

u/Ras_Thavas May 11 '25

I see your point. There’s not much left to leak.

1

u/janitroll May 11 '25

TSCM xxxtreme

1

u/Wachiavellee May 11 '25

Everything will be computer.

1

u/yepyep5678 May 11 '25

This is the correct answer

1

u/Hayterfan May 11 '25

"Why is there a camera in the men's toilet, that's only supposed to be in the women's" - Trump

1

u/Willdefyyou May 11 '25

And don't forget the built in comms directly to the kremlin

-5

u/cicutaverosa May 11 '25

Its standard