‘Why would we buy influence?' — Qatar PM hits back at critics over jet offer to Donald Trump
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani has dismissed growing criticism over a proposed plan for Qatar to provide a Boeing 747-8 aircraft to the US government—an aircraft that US President Donald Trump has said will serve as a temporary Air Force One and eventually be donated to his presidential library.
Sheikh Al-Thani, speaking to CNN on Wednesday (May 14), firmly rejected allegations of influence-peddling, saying,
'This is a very simple government-to-government dealing… It has nothing to do with personnel, whether it's on the US side or the Qatari side. It's Ministry of Defense and Department of Defense.'
The deal has drawn scrutiny from both Democrats and Republicans. Al-Thani pushed back strongly against that narrative: 'Why would we buy an influence in the United States?' he asked.
'If you look just in the last 10 years in the US-Qatar relationship, Qatar has always been there for the US when it's needed—whether it's on the war against terror, whether it's in the evacuation of Afghanistan, whether it's on releasing hostages from different countries around the world.'
The Qatari prime minister also confirmed that the matter is still under legal examination and emphasised that the deal would be cancelled if it was found to breach any laws.
'We will not do anything illegal,' Al-Thani said. 'If there's something illegal here, there would be many ways to hide these kinds of transactions that wouldn't be visible to the public. This is a very clear exchange between two governments. I don't see any controversy.'
Trump, for his part, has repeatedly defended his intention to accept the aircraft. On Sunday, he posted on Truth Social describing the aircraft as a 'GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE' to the US Defense Department.
On Tuesday, he doubled down, saying anyone who wouldn't accept such a donation would be a
'FOOL,' and claimed it would be 'stupid' to reject a free plane.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the issue on Monday, saying the legal framework for the transfer is still being developed.
'Any donation to this government is always done in full compliance with the law,' Leavitt said during a press briefing.
The Boeing 747-8 in question is reportedly one of several aircraft Qatar had acquired for state use but never fully integrated into official service.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Anna University Sexual Assault Case Accused Gnanasekaran Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For 30 Years
Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
What's good for politicians is good for General Motors
General Motors CEO Mary Barra earned $29.5 million last year, and it's hard to argue that she isn't earning her keep. The automaker sold more cars in the U.S. than any other company last year, and its profits have doubled in her 11 years as CEO. Credit her ability to please her most important customers—politicians. Their command is her wish. While doubling down on manufacturing profitable gas guzzlers, Ms. Barra promoted electric vehicles to ingratiate herself to Democrats who want to eliminate the products that churn out profits for her company. She again proved her flexible principles last week by praising President Trump's auto tariffs, which the company estimates will dent its profits by $5 billion this year. 'I think tariffs is one tool that the administration can use to level the playing field," she said. What she omitted is that the playing field has been tilted in GM's favor for decades by a 25% tariff on pickup trucks, which gives domestic automakers an effective monopoly. Also: Mr. Trump's new 25% tariffs on all cars and parts not made in the U.S. will hurt GM, but they will wallop its foreign competitors even more. In 2018 Ms. Barra got a crash course in politicking when she announced a corporate restructuring that involved closing four U.S. plants that produced low-selling sedans. Her goal was to make GM leaner and more profitable. In this she succeeded, but she blundered by not throwing a bone to Mr. Trump, who thinks CEOs answer to him. 'I spoke with her when I heard they were closing and I said, 'You know, this country has done a lot for General Motors,' " he said, adding that he had encouraged Ms. Barra to keep its Lordstown, Ohio, plant open: 'You better get back in there soon." Mr. Trump was right that GM is a willing ward of Washington. In addition to the longstanding 25% pickup tariff, the U.S. government invested some $51 billion in the company as part of its bankruptcy, only about $39 billion of which it recovered. The first Trump administration also went to bat for GM and other automakers by rolling back its predecessor's burdensome fuel-economy standards and revoking a waiver that allowed California to impose costly EV quotas. Ms. Barra no doubt knows that her business is at the mercy of a mercurial government, and better keep the rulers happy. And so she did. In 2019, GM announced plans to create 450 new factory jobs in Ohio, as well as a joint venture with LG Chem to build a $2.3 billion EV battery plant near the closed Lordstown factory. Mr. Trump repaid the favor with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which included wage mandates and domestic content requirements for tariff-free imports from Mexico and Canada that disadvantaged GM's foreign competitors. Ms. Barra attended Mr. Trump's USMCA signing ceremony. After Mr. Trump lost re-election, Ms. Barra began kowtowing to her new master in Washington. GM rapidly did a U-turn on California's EV rules. 'We believe the ambitious electrification goals of the President-elect, California, and General Motors are aligned to address climate change by drastically reducing automobile emissions," Ms. Barra said in November 2020. On Jan. 28, 2021, GM announced plans to go all-electric by 2035, conforming its business plans to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's mandate. That August, Ms. Barra cheered Mr. Biden's plans to rev up fuel-economy standards at a White House event. A few months later, Ms. Barra lent her support to the Democrats' $5 trillion Build Back Better legislation, notwithstanding its costly new entitlements that would be paid for in part with corporate tax hikes. Never mind that Ms. Barra had been just named chairman of the Business Roundtable, which was lobbying against the legislation. Paramount for Ms. Barra was the bill's $12,500 tax credit for EVs built with union labor, which would have put GM's nonunion competitors like Tesla at a disadvantage. Although that bill failed, Ms. Barra continued to advocate for its successor, the Inflation Reduction Act, which included rich subsidies for EVs and battery production. The Biden Energy Department repaid Ms. Barra by awarding GM a $2.5 billion low-interest loan for its battery joint venture with LG. Now that the political tides in Washington have turned, Ms. Barra has too. GM this spring lobbied Congress to reverse the federal waiver for California's EV mandate. 'Shameful what GM did behind our back," Mr. Newsom snapped after the Senate approved the resolution and sent it to Mr. Trump's desk. Last week, GM scrapped a plan to make EV motors at an upstate New York factory. Instead, the company will make high-tech V-8 engines for full-size trucks and SUVs, which Ms. Barra called 'the most significant engine investment we've made in history." Music to Mr. Trump's ears. If it's any consolation to Democrats, Ms. Barra will surely be at their beck and call next time they control Washington. Can you blame her? When government has sweeping power to pick winners and losers, a CEO's responsibility becomes to keep the company's overlords happy so it always comes out a winner.
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
Who is Mohamed Soliman, man arrested for attack on Colorado Jewish gathering
A 45-year-old man, yelling "Free Palestine," threw a firebomb at people, injuring at least six, during a weekly gathering of Jewish community members in US's Colorado. Police arrested the suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, for the alleged anti-Semitic attack, which the FBI has described as an act of "targeted terror".The attack occurred when a group participating in a 'Run For Their Lives' walk, aimed at raising awareness for Israeli hostages held in Gaza, gathered. Witnesses reported seeing Soliman throw Molotov cocktails and use a makeshift flamethrower at the the assault, he was reportedly heard shouting "Free Palestine," "How many children you killed," "We have to end Zionists," and "They are killers". Soliman was also injured and was taken to the hospital to be treated. No charges were immediately announced but officials said they expect to hold him 'fully accountable'. An FBI special agent said the suspect was in custody and there was no evidence at this time that he was connected to a wider Islamist terrorist named Mohamad Soliman set Jews on fire in Boulder, is the second terrorist attack in 10 days in the US where the perpetrator screams 'Free Palestine'.It's time for 'Free Palestine' to be OFFICIALLY considered a terrorist chant. Dr. Maalouf (@realMaalouf) June 1, 2025The Boulder police are yet to provide further details about the suspect and officially ascertain the motive behind the the White House deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, posted on X that the man was a foreign national who "illegally overstayed (his) visa".According to CNN, Soliman was denied a visa in 2005 to enter the United States, and it is unclear when or how the suspect entered the reports, citing senior Department of Homeland Security sources, suggest that Soliman is an Egyptian national who entered the US on a non-immigrant visa in attack on the peaceful gathering comes just days after the fatal shooting in Washington of two Israeli embassy workers. FBI Director Kash Patel described the incident as a "targeted terror attack," and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said it appeared to be "a hate crime given the group that was targeted".
