Kristi Noem’s luxurious $70 million jet is set to remain a resource under the Trump administration, with First Lady Melania Trump among those who will have access to its exclusive amenities.
According to The Wall Street Journal, several cabinet secretaries will also be permitted to use the aircraft. Originally acquired to support President Trump’s expansive deportation plans, the jet’s purpose has since evolved to accommodate high-profile government officials.
Purchased by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, this opulent aircraft is equipped with an array of high-end features, including a bedroom, showers, a kitchen, four large flat-screen televisions, and even a bar, as revealed by images procured by NBC News.
The jet, which had already been leased by the Department of Homeland Security, recently facilitated a trip for Noem to Tel Aviv, underscoring its role in supporting official travel.
A representative from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the acquisition of this $70 million jet occurred before the appointment of the new Secretary, Markwayne Mullin.
“This aircraft will be available to cabinet members requiring secure command capabilities, control, and rapid long-range mobility,” the spokesperson elaborated, highlighting its strategic importance for government operations.
The White House referred reporters to the DHS when asked for comment.
ICE claims the jet will be used for deportations and travel for Cabinet officials, including DHS leadership like Noem.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Noem are seeking approval from the White House to purchase a $70 million luxury Boeing jet
NBC’s scoop caused the RNC to flag the story to the top power brokers and media pundits in the Republican party
Kristi Noem’s controversial $70milion luxury jet will remain under the Trump administration’s purview as First Lady Melania Trump will be among those who get to use it
The jet had already been leased by DHS and was used for a recent trip by Noem to Tel Aviv
But some DHS officials privately expressed concern to NBC whether the luxury 737 jet is necessary for Noem to carryout the president’s mass deportation agenda.
When asked how the plane would be used for deportations, a DHS spokesperson said ‘at least one of the bedrooms is currently being converted for seating to prepare the aircraft to meet the demands of its deportation mission’.
NBC’s scoop caused the Republican National Committee to blast the story to the top power brokers and media pundits in the Republican party.
The story was sent on Thursday morning to an email list filled with some of the most important operators in the GOP, including RNC members.
‘Knives are out for Noem. They only send out stories they want folks to know about,’ one GOP operator on the RNC’s list told the Daily Mail. ‘They don’t send out every clipping.’
An RNC spokesperson, however, downplayed the significance of the story being sent to the narrow email server filled with top officials in the GOP.
‘Whoever this ‘source’ is clearly has no idea how media monitoring works,’ RNC Communications Director Zach Parkinson told the Daily Mail.
‘The RNC Communications team routinely monitors and alerts all kinds of stories – even fake ones – as it helps Republican communicators push back on legacy media lies.’
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Some DHS officials privately expressed concern whether the luxury 737 jet is necessary for Noem to carryout the president’s mass deportation agenda
Noem recently used the jet for a trip to Tel Aviv, Israel
Noem’s jet is equipped with a sprawling bedroom, flashy shower, and marble cocktail bar
‘Secretary Noem and all of President Trump’s appointees at DHS are doing great work and have the RNC’s full support,’ added Parkinson.
Noem was let go as DHS Secretary on March 5, with Mullin confirmed by the Senate shortly after.
Political appointees in ICE and the White House initially were not going to purchase the plane but suddenly changed their minds, according to NBC’s report.
‘That particular plane was a ‘no,’ we weren’t going to buy it. Then all of a sudden, they said ‘yes,” a DHS official said.
Officials also planned out how the plane could be ‘retrofitted’ for deportations, as well as for personal travel for Noem, according to the report.
