Trump Claims Qatar Is Giving Him $400 Million Jet Out of Goodness of Their Heart
'So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so 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,' the president wrote late Sunday night on Truth Social, reposting the message Monday morning on X.
Trump elaborated during a press briefing. 'I think it's a great gesture from Qatar, I appreciate it very much,' he said. 'I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.'
ABC News reported on Sunday that Trump is accepting the jet, described as 'a flying palace,' as part of a shockingly blatant attempt from the Qatari government to buy influence with the White House. It's the latest development in a disturbing string of nakedly corrupt maneuvers from Trump and his administration — from the president's crypto enterprise to his family's business deals in the Middle East.
Yes, Democrats are pissed. 'This isn't a good idea even if the plane was being donated to the U.S. government,' Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Ct.) wrote, highlighting how the plane will reportedly be donated to Trump's presidential library after he leaves office. 'But Trump GETS TO KEEP THE PLANE??? It's simply a cash payment to Trump in exchange for favors. Just wildly illegal.'
'The Constitution is perfectly clear,' wrote Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) in response to the report, noting how the Constitution states that the president cannot accept a gift or emolument of 'any kind whatever' from a foreign state without the approval of Congress.
Some of Trump's closest allies aren't happy, either.
'I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him. But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million 'gift' from jihadists in suits,' Laura Loomer, a far-right activist who has been advising Trump on personnel decisions, wrote on X, adding that accepting the plane would be 'such a stain' on the administration and that she is 'so disappointed.'
The specifics of the jet transfer are still unclear, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Monday that the legal details are 'still being worked out.' Attorney General Pam Bondi, who signed off on the deal, formerly worked as a lobbyist for the Qatari government.
'Any donation to this government is always done in full compliance with the law, and we commit ourselves to the utmost transparency,' Leavitt added on Fox & Friends. When asked if there was any concern that Qatar may want something in return, Leavitt said 'absolutely not' and that Trump 'only works with the interest of the American public in mind.'
The implication then is that a foreign government known for trying to buy influence would simply give away a palatial jet worth nearly a half a billion dollars because it was … feeling generous?'
Trump was asked the same question about Qatar expecting something in return by reporters on Monday. He largely ignored it, touting how nice the planes in 'Arab countries' are compared to the current Air Force One and noting that the United States has done a lot for Qatar, and that the plane is a 'nice gesture.'
The news comes as Trump takes his first official international trip of his second term. He'll leave Monday for the Middle East, and Qatar will be one of his stops. Trump's company struck a deal last month to build a new golf resort in the desert nation.
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