Trump goes on defense over Qatar jet gift

Yahoo

13-05-2025

President Trump defended his decision to accept a luxury Boeing jet from Qatar, calling it 'stupid' for him to turn it down amid an influx of criticism from both sides of the aisle over the gift.
'I could be a stupid person and say, 'Oh no, we don't want a free plane.' We give free things out, we'll take one too. And, it helps us out because … we have 40-year-old aircraft,' he said Monday morning, referring to Air Force One. 'So, I think it's a great gesture from Qatar, I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I could be a stupid person and say, 'No we don't want a free, very expensive airplane,' but I thought it was a great gesture.'
The Boeing 747-8 airplane from the government of Qatar would replace Air Force One and would be kept by Trump's eventual presidential library after the end of his term. Boeing has had a contract with the U.S. government to build a new Air Force One, but it has been delayed.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) acknowledged the delay but did not give his full backing to the offer.
'I understand his frustration. They're way behind schedule on delivering the next Air Force One,' Thune told The Hill later in the day. 'Whether or not this is the right solution … I don't know.'
Trump earlier on Monday lashed out at a reporter when asked for his response to critics who say the luxury jet is a personal gift.
'You should be embarrassed asking that question,' he said. 'They're giving us a free jet. I could say, 'No, no, no, don't give [it to] us. I want to pay you a billion or $400 million or whatever it is.' Or I could say, 'Thank you very much.''
Trump also said that the gift is not to him personally but to the Defense Department, while acknowledging that when he leaves office, the plane 'would go directly to the library.'
Some GOP lawmakers said the administration needs to run the full gamut of legal tests to make sure the idea of him accepting a luxury jet is constitutionally foolproof.
'I think they should run the legal challenges to see [if it's OK]. I'd be checking for bugs, is what I'd be checking for,' said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). 'We need to look at the constitutionality of it, sure.'
Other Republicans warned against him accepting such a gift.
'Nothing about getting Air Force One from a foreign government feels right. It may be legal, but I wouldn't do it,' former George W. Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer posted on the social platform X. 'Air Force One should be American through and through. It shouldn't pass through foreign hands and it shouldn't be a gift from a King. Don't do it.'
Even one of Trump's closest allies, Laura Loomer, called out the move as a 'stain' on the presidency and said she was disappointed that the president would accept this gift.
'I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him,' Loomer said on X. 'But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million 'gift' from jihadists in suits.'
Meanwhile, Democrats made clear their anger and dissatisfaction with the move, arguing that it amounts to blatant corruption.
Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) announced on Monday they are seeking a vote on a measure targeting the gift over questions about foreign influence and national security.
'The Constitution is clear: elected officials, like the president, cannot accept large gifts from foreign governments without consent from Congress. Air Force One is more than just a plane — it's a symbol of the presidency and of the United States itself,' the quartet said in a statement, arguing that it 'creates a clear conflict of interest and undermines public trust in our government' on top of influence and national security issues.
'No one — not even the president — is above the law,' they said. 'This week, we will ask the Senate to vote to reiterate a basic principle: no one should use public service for personal gain through foreign gifts.'
Schatz, who is running to become the No. 2 Senate Democrat, also wrote on X that one does not 'need a law degree' to realize the gift is 'wildly corrupt.'
Additionally, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) derided Trump as a 'wannabe king,' saying that the president shouldn't be accepting gifts from foreign countries.
The president left Monday morning for the Middle East, and he is set to visit Qatar during the five-day swing. And, so far, he has aimed his defense of criticism over the luxury jet toward the media and political opponents.
He blasted Democratic critics on Truth Social on Sunday, saying that accepting the gift 'bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA.'
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