CNN panel clashes over Trump Qatar plane
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CNN 's 'NewsNight' panel clashed over Donald Trump 's decision to accept a luxury Boeing 747 as a gift from Qatar - leading Senior Political Commentator Scott Jennings to inject some humor into the conversation. The exchange came toward the end of Thursday's show, during some serious talks about Trump's controversial commitment. 'Can you imagine if Barack Obama got a plane from the Qataris?' asked Congressional Democrat Jared Moskowitz, as the costly gift continues to cause pushback from progressives and conservatives alike.
'I mean, Scott would be calling it the Barack Hussein plane,' Moskowitz joked, inadvertently offering Jennings a softball he would soon hit out of the park. 'I mean, we - it would be endless all day long. We would be seeing it,' he continued - paving the way for a seemingly serious Jennings to interrupt the visibly frustrated guest. 'No,' Jennings simply stated. 'Barack "Huplane" Obama,' he quickly followed up, offering a pun - and some much-needed levity - in the otherwise austere debate. Laughs immediately rang out in response.
The previous tension, meanwhile, could be cut with a knife - despite most of the panel seemingly agreeing with Moskowitz in his assessment. 'Let me be fair. I think what the president did in - I think what the president did in Saudi Arabia is a good thing,' the Florida politician added of Trump's recent diplomatic work in the Middle East. 'We [got to make sure they don't go to the Chinese,' he added of countries like Qatar and Syria.
'We got to try to got to get them from the Russians. And so, [Trump's] trying something different.' Host Abby Phillip, Jennings' colleague Van Jones, and former Biden treasury official Natasha Sarin all pushed back on the idea of accepting a $400million Boeing 747-8 from Qatar's royal family. Jennings, like other conservatives who usually have Trump's back but have found problems with the dynamic, also appeared to be against the plane proposal.
He did express faith, however, in how Trump was handling the situation in the Middle East. The visits to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates came as part an apparent bid to improve long-tenuous ties between Gulf Arab and Western states. They also saw the president solidify a series of investment agreements in the process.
During the trip, Trump defended his decision to accept the luxury jet and retire Air Force One, by complaining the current jet being used to cart US presidents is 'smaller and less impressive' than those of Arab leaders. 'The plane that you are on right now is almost 40 years old,' Trump said, referring to Air Force One. Boeing planes currently being purchased by Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar are 'brand new', he pointed out.
'You see ours next to it. This is like a totally different plane. It's much smaller and less impressive, as impressive as it is,' Trump explained. 'We are the United States of America I believe we should have the most impressive plane.' The president appeared visibly frustrated by the fact Boeing had not provided him with a new Air Force One. 'It's pretty much the same plane with a new paint color if you want to know the truth,' he said.
'We are painting it red, white, and blue like the American flag which is incredible. Much more beautiful and much more representative of us.' Trump said the United States spent trillions of dollars to help secure nations overseas, including in Qatar, so it only makes sense to accept costly gifts in return. He also again floated his idea of a US takeover of the Gaza strip, and signed an agreement on AI worth around $1.4 trillion.
During the CNN discussion - which came almost exactly 24 hours removed from a fierce debate on the same set and same subject - Erin Maguire did not push back against the plane gift. Aside from Jennings, she was the only other Republican on the panel. Jennings previously pushed back on the idea on Wednesday - putting him at odds with Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary.
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