Did the United States just sell Norway fictional fighter jets? Are these jets, existing only in a video game, really being developed? Or is this just another case of “covfefe”?
More like the latter, as President Donald Trump appears to have made a mistake while delivering a speech recently.
President Trump praised the delivery of “F-52” fighter jets to Norway during a talk at the White House on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg stood next to Trump as he reflected on the relationship of the U.S. with Norway, while also announcing the delivery of the fighter jets.
“In November, we started delivering the first F-52s and F-35 fighter jets. We have a total of 52 and they’ve delivered a number of them already a little ahead of schedule,” The Washington Post quoted Trump delivering his speech.
There’s just one problem: the F-52 doesn’t exist in real life. It does, however, exist in the virtual reality of the first-person shooter video game “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare”.
Trump appeared to have committed a slip of the tongue as he read from a prepared statement. It seems that he mixed the number “52” with the “F” U.S. inventory designation of fighter jets, just as what the F-35 Lightning II is called.
Lockheed Martin, the company that manufactures the aircrafts, stated that the Norwegian government has authorized the funding of 40 F-35s, and has received delivery of 10 thus far. The F-35 jets are the most advanced in U.S. inventory. The company did not mention if it had F-52 jets in the making.
As per report, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and “Call of Duty” developer, Sledgehammer Games, have not yet responded for comment. Cody Cepeda/JB
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