Trump touches down in Qatar amid controversy over luxury jet gift and hopes for Gaza ceasefire
President Donald Trump arrived in Qatar Wednesday amid a controversy about its gift of a new Air Force One and amid hopes he can broker an Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
The president is in Doha on day two of his four-day trip to the Middle East, where his focus has been on strengthening U.S. relations with the Arab world.
He'll enjoy a state visit with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thanic, who is expected to announce billions in investments in the United States.
But Trump's trip also raised questions on where America's relationship with Israel stands and turned the spotlight on Qatar's wealthy royal family and its gift of a 'flying palace' to the president.
The president argued his trip does not sideline Israel.
'This is good for Israel, having a relationship like I have with these countries; Middle Eastern countries, essentially all of them. I think it's very good for Israel,' he told reporters on Air Force One ahead of his arrival in Doha.
And he defended the gift.
'We're the United States of America. I believe that we should have the most impressive plane,' Trump told Fox News.
His administration is trying to shift the focus of the Qatar stop to the situation in Gaza.
Ahead of Trump's arrival in Doha, a high-level meeting took place with American, Israeli and Palestinian officials to try to broker a peace deal in the war torn region.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler were in the talks.
Trump, during his first stop in Saudi Arabia, gently nudged the nation to sign on to his Abraham Accords, which call for a normalization of relations with Israel.
Discussions on the issue came to a halt after the Gaza war erupted and the kingdom insisted there can be no normalization without Palestinian statehood.
Trump said on Tuesday Saudi Arabia would join the accords in its own time.
But Israeli hit Gaza hard on Wednesday, killing at least 50 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip in a significant escalation of the bombardment as Trump is in the region.
Gaza is experiencing a humanitarian crisis with thousands starving to death due to lack of food and water.
Hamas, meanwhile, has been courting Trump, including releasing U.S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, the last living U.S. citizen who had been held in Gaza by Hamas since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Trump will not visit Israel during his travels in what was seen as a snub to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Not helping matters are three moves Trump made that disturbed Israel.
The president announced, ahead of his trip, that the U.S. would halt its strikes on the Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group in Yemen that agreed to stop its attacks on American vessels in the Red Sea.
And Trump met with Syria 's new leader, President Ahmed al-Sharaa, while in Saudia Arabia and announced the U.S. was exploring a 'normalization' of relations with that country.
Netanyahu had asked Trump not to lift sanctions on Syria, making the request during his visit to Washington last month, an Israeli official told the Associated Press.
Israel is concerned that Syria could launch an attack similar to Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, assault. Israel also fears al-Sharaa and his Islamist past could pose a threat on its northern border.
Trump encouraged Syria to join the Abraham Accords.
Additionally, the Israelis are not happy with Trump's decision to launch negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. The country fears a deal that would not be strict enough to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon or rein in its support for regional militant groups.
But a controversy closer to home could overshadow Trump's Qatar stop: the royal family's gift of a luxury $400 million 747 that the president wants to use a new Air Force One.
The plane would revert to his presidential library once he leaves office and be available or his personal use.
Trump has expressed frustration with Boeing's delays in delivering two new 747s designed to serve as the presidential plane.
But the gift comes with security fears – it would take millions to give it the necessary security upgrades and it would have to be swept for listening devices.
Trump has dismissed concerns about security and allegations he violated ethics rules. There are questions as to whether the gift violates the emoluments clause of the Constitution, which prohibits a federal official from accepting a gift or payment from a foreign government.
'The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME!,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social account Tuesday night.
'It will be used by our Government as a temporary Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeings, which are very late on delivery, arrive. Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done. This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country. Thank you for your attention to this matter!,' he wrote.
Trump has been criticized - even by some Republicans - for accepting the gift.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Tuesday he is putting blanket hold on all Justice Department political nominees as he seeks answers to the administration's decision to accept the luxury plane.
Trump, in return, called the senator, who is Jewish, a 'Palestinian.'
'Schumer, you know, he's become a Palestinian. There's something wrong with him. You know, I've known him a long time and there's something wrong. He's lost his confidence, totally. There's just something wrong. I don't know what it is with Schumer,' the president said on Wednesday.
Joining Trump on the Qatari leg of his trip is FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The U.S. is hosting the 2026 World Cup.
The soccer chief flew with Trump on Air Force One from Saudi to Doha.
He preside over a ceremony in which the emir of Qatar will hand World Cup hosting duties to Trump.
Meanwhile, the Trump ties to Qatar are getting stronger.
His family is personally invested in the country.
The Trump business empire announced a new Middle East golf course and real estate project in Qatar in a deal involving a Qatari government-owned firm.
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