Trump Calling Qataris 'Funders of Terrorism' Resurfaces Amid Jet Fury

Newsweek

13-05-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
President Donald Trump is under fire, including from some of his supporters, for saying he plans to accept a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar as a temporary replacement for Air Force One—a gesture of goodwill that marks a sharp contrast to his own past characterization of the Gulf nation as a sponsor of terrorism.
A 2017 clip resurfaced on social media showing Trump publicly accusing Qatar of financing terrorism "at a very high level," just as he publicly said he was planning to accept a Boeing 747-8 aircraft from the Qatari royal family. The jetliner would be the most expensive gift ever given to a sitting American president, by far.
President Donald Trump with Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis, speaks during their joint news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 9, 2017.
President Donald Trump with Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis, speaks during their joint news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 9, 2017.
AP
The Context
The jet, described as a gold-plated "flying palace," is intended for use during ongoing delays in the construction of the next-generation Air Force One and will eventually be decommissioned and donated to Trump's presidential library, the president said. Qatari officials said the plane was being given by the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon.
However, the $400 million gift has drawn legal and ethical scrutiny, with critics arguing that it could violate constitutional gift rules and that it could amount to foreign influence.
What To Know
The resurfaced clip shows Trump, during a 2017 press conference with then-Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, criticizing Qatar over the Saudi-led blockade—a stance that now contradicts his current praise for the country's leadership.
"The nation of Qatar has, unfortunately, been a funder of terrorism at a very high level," he added. "We have to stop the funding of terrorists... They have to end that funding," said the president from the White House lawn.
Donald Trump in 2017: Qatar has been a funder of terrorism at a very high level.
Today: Accepts a $400 million jet from Qatar, praises its leadership, and is set to visit it as one of the first countries in his second term while his family builds a luxury golf resort there.… pic.twitter.com/WiXBuWuzpd — Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) May 13, 2025
At the time, Trump aligned with Saudi Arabia and the UAE in their pressure campaign against Qatar, a country that also hosts the largest American military base in the Middle East. President Trump backed the blockade, tweeting that it might mark "the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism," and accused Qatar of funding extremism for its close ties with Iran.
During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar - look! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017
Later in 2017, the Trump administration's tone toward Qatar began to moderate. Then-secretary of State Rex Tillerson tried to mediate the Gulf dispute, and the U.S. praised Qatar's efforts to combat terrorism financing after it signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Treasury in July 2017. By the end of the year, Trump had also spoken by phone with the emir of Qatar.
Now, as Trump is well into his second term and preparing to visit Qatar as the next stop on his Middle East tour, he is defending his acceptance of the jet, attempting to frame the gift as a benefit to the American taxpayer rather than a personal gain.
"This was just a gesture of good faith," Trump said. "We give free things out. We'll take one too, and it helps us out. Because, again, we're talking about—we have 40-year-old aircraft," he added, referencing the current aging Air Force One fleet.
Yet, apart from the expected backlash from Democrats, some Republicans and MAGA figures have expressed concerns about the deal and have urged the president to reject the gift. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro stood against "taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Al Jazeera," while activist Laura Loomer called it "concerning."
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump responded to criticism on Truth Social: "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."
Laura Loomer, a conservative activist and Trump supporter, wrote in a Sunday X post: "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."
What Happens Next
The White House confirmed that the jet would be donated to the U.S. Department of Defense and not to Trump directly. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, "Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump's administration is committed to full transparency."