Qatar Royal Family's Gifted Aircraft Deploys Emergency Slide Before Takeoff, Trump's Dallas Trip Delayed, Foreign Gift Controversy Continues

U.S. President Trump was originally scheduled to travel to Dallas on the 9th to attend the Republican midterm election convention and deliver a keynote speech, but his chartered aircraft—a modified plane gifted by the Qatari royal family—unexpectedly deployed its emergency inflatable slide that day at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, forcing a brief delay in the trip.

According to ABC News citing informed sources, military personnel accidentally triggered the slide's release mechanism during preparation. Trump told reporters before boarding that ground crew were inspecting the slide on site. "They are checking the slide over here. I think it needs 15 minutes," Trump said, emphasizing that the aircraft was "completely fit to fly." When asked whether safety issues were involved, Trump said personnel wanted to ensure the slide "operated perfectly."

Emergency slides are typically not tested by actual deployment before takeoff, as the disassembly and reinstallation process is time-consuming. The slide was ultimately removed from the fuselage and transported away by a pickup truck. A previously used chartered aircraft by Trump was also activated as a backup.

What draws attention is that this aircraft is not a U.S. asset, but a gift from the Qatari royal family, valued at approximately $400 million, with about 14 years of service. Trump previously called it "the most luxurious aircraft in the world," and stated in July this year that the aircraft would be "fully upgraded," with the upgrade process expected to take about a month.

This foreign gift has sparked controversy in the United States, with some members of Congress and ethics experts questioning the acceptance of such a high-value gift, focusing on the unprecedented scale of the gift and the power ethics issues behind it. According to reports, the aircraft is still under review. The specific progress of the relevant legal review process remains unclear.

Trump ultimately proceeded to Dallas as planned to attend the Republican midterm election convention and deliver a keynote speech.