Trump feels the heat from MAGA over ‘great gesture' of a luxury jet from Qatar
Laura Loomer has found her next target: axing President Donald Trump's acceptance of a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family.
'I'm hoping that it's not true,' Loomer, who helped instigate the firings of six White House national security officials last month, told POLITICO.
'If the initial reports are factual, I think it's concerning,' the hard-right activist and Trump ally said. 'Qatar is not our friend.'
Her remarks came after ABC News reported Sunday that Qatar's royal family would make a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet available to Trump as Air Force One, after which it would be donated to his presidential library foundation for his use after leaving office.
Asked if she would personally speak to Trump about her concerns, Loomer said, 'Look, I don't tell the president what to do. My posts are pretty viral in their own nature, so I think that message will probably [get to him]. I know that I'm not the only person who is a diehard Trump supporter who is concerned about whether or not this report is true.'
Loomer said, 'I want to be clear in saying that I am eager to see what the president and his team at the White House are going to say about this.'
It didn't take long for Trump to address the issue — and in starkly different terms than Loomer. On Monday morning, while attacking ABC as 'fake news' in a press conference, he defended the idea of accepting such a gift from Qatar.
'I think it's a great gesture from Qatar,' he said. 'I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.'
He also blamed the British-owned defense contractor Boeing, which he said has taken 'so long to build a new Air Force One' as a reason for accepting the jet.
'They said we would like to do something and if we can get a 747 as a contribution to our Defense Department to use,' he said. 'We give free things out, we'll take one too.'
Loomer, after watching Trump's remarks, said, 'Look, I understand the reasoning about not wanting to burden the United States taxpayer with $400 million. But it's going to complicate foreign policy about the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, which was promised and undelivered in the first Trump administration. It's kind of this elephant in the room as Trump goes to the Middle East.'
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