Latest news with #AirForceOnce
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Donald Trump branded a ‘baby with a hand grenade in shop specialising in glass'
The unflattering description of the US President from Neil Kinnock came as the ex-Labour leader hit out at the Mr Trump's 'completely inexcusable' global tariff policy. Donald Trump has been branded a "baby with a hand grenade in a shop specialising in crockery and glass". The unflattering description of the US President from Neil Kinnock came as the ex-Labour leader hit out at the Mr Trump's "completely inexcusable" global tariff policy. He warned it will inflict "terrible damage" on world trade and the American public. But he praised Keir Starmer, who has negotiated a deal with the US, for "playing a very, very difficult hand, extremely well" in relations with the erratic American President. Lord Kinnock said: "It's a recognition of where Britain really is in the modern world. The Prime Minister knows when he's dealing with a capricious, immature, ultimately powerful man, then he's not dealing with anything remotely normal in international relations. "He knows Donald Trump could on a tantrum and inflict terrible damage on our country. If he can keep Trump near stability and consistency he's done very well." It comes as Mr Trump prepares to jet to the UK on Air Force Once for an "unprecedented" second state visit in September. He was handed the invitation from King Charles during his first face-to-face meeting with Mr Starmer in the Oval Office back in February. Asked whether the PM was right to extend the invitation, Lord Kinnock told The Mirror: "We use whatever means we have." Recalling a tip from his late wife, Glenys Kinnock, he said: "I remember I had broken the radiator belt in my mini, and Glenys came up with a brilliant idea of using her tights, which I did, and it got us home. "The tights, I could tie them tight enough to replicate the belt. And got me home. International politics is a bit like that with Donald Trump around. "I mean he's a baby with a hand grenade in a shop specialising in crockery and glass." He added: "He's got to be dealt with in the same way that the brave people who defuse bombs do it. Quite extraordinary in their courage. Keir doesn't have to show quite the level of bravery, but he's got to be just as delicate with his spanner and his screwdriver."
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
''13,600 kg bunker-buster bombs': What could Donald Trump's 'more direct support' to Israel mean for Iran?
Israel-Iran conflict: As tensions flare up between Israel and Iran, talks over the possibility of the United States getting involved in the conflict in support of Jerusalem have been the centre of attention. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday affirmed that he wants a "real end" to the conflict between Israel and Iran, not just a ceasefire. Follow Iran Israel war live updates And now, if Trump decides to provide more direct support to Israel in its fight against Iran, it is possible that he could provide "buster-bunker" bombs to help Jerusalem considerably damage Tehran's Fordow nuclear fuel enrichment plant. Speaking to reporters onboard Air Force Once, Trump said that he might send Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff for negotiations with Iran. But the President also said that he was "not too much in the mood to negotiate". He insisted that Iran should have taken the nuclear deal that was on the table earlier. "Bunker buster" is a term used to describe bombs that are designed to go deep below the surface before exploding. In America's case, it is the latest GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordinance Penetrator bomb. According to the US Air Force, the precision-guided bomb, which weighs around 13,600 kilograms, is designed to attack hardened bunkers and tunnels that are situated deep under the surface. It is believed that the US's bunker-buster bomb can penetrate about 200 feet (61 meters) below the surface before exploding. The bombs can be dropped back-to-back, effectively penetrating the underground space deeper and deeper with every blast. The GBU-57 carries a conventional warhead, The Associated Press reported. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran is producing highly enriched uranium at the Fordow facility. This means that if America's bunker-buster bomb, GBU-57 A/B, were to hit the facility, it would probably result in the release of nuclear material into the area. Israeli strikes have already "significantly damaged" Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, wherein a hit on a centrifuge site has caused contamination within the site itself, the IAEA said, clarifying that no leak has occurred in the surrounding area. The GBU-57 A/B bunker-buster bomb could be dropped by any bomber capable of carrying its weight. But this is all in theory. At present, the United States has reportedly only configured and programmed its B-2 Spirit stealth bomber to deliver the bunker-buster bomb. The B-2 bomber, produced by Northrop Grumman, is only flown by the US Air Force. As per Northrop Grumman, the B-2 bomber can carry a payload of 18,000 kilograms. However, the US Air Force has said that it successfully tested the B-2 to carry a load of two bunker-buster bombs, which in total weigh around 27,200 kilograms. The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber has a range of about 11,000 kilometres without the need for refueling and 18,500 kilometres with one refueling stop. According to its manufacturer, the long-range heavy bomber can reach anywhere in the world within hours. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz had earlier in the day reportedly said that Fordow is an issue that "will be addressed", indicating possible attacks on the Iranian nuclear enrichment facility. At the G7 Summit in Canada on Monday, Trump urged Israel and Iran to begin talks "before it is too late". Earlier as well, in a post on Truth Social, the President had pressed for the two countries to "make a deal". While the US has not militarily intervened in the conflict yet, Trump told ABC News on Sunday that "it is possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved". But a possible US involvement in the conflict would mean more direct support to Israel, and that could, in return, mean many things for Iran. Iran and Israel continued to fiercely trade fire for a fifth day on Tuesday, with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying that Israeli strikes had 'direct impacts' on the underground centrifuge halls of Iran's main nuclear enrichment site in Natanz. The fear of nuclear weapons raised further concerns in the Middle East region against the backdrop of this ongoing conflict. While US President Donald Trump has made several remarks on the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East, he has not clearly spelt out any steps regarding the escalating tensions. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Trump have no sign at the G7 Summit that the US would get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. "There is nothing the president said that suggests he's about to get involved in this conflict. On the contrary, the G7 statement was about de-escalation," Starmer said. Shortly after this remark from Starmer, US Vice President JD Vance suggested that Trump may decided to take "further action" against the Iranian nuclear programme. In a post on X, Vance said, "The president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military's focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens. He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment." (with inputs from agencies)
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Just wildly illegal': top Democrats push to censure Trump's plan to accept Qatar jet
Top Democrats in the US Senate are pushing for a vote on the floor of the chamber censuring Donald Trump's reported plan to accept a $400m luxury jet from the royal family of Qatar for use as Air Force One and later as a fixture in the Trump's personal presidential library. Four Democratic members of the Senate foreign relations committee said on Monday that they would press for a vote later this week. They said that elected officials, including the president, were not allowed to accept large gifts from foreign governments unless authorized to do so by Congress. Cory Booker from New Jersey, Brian Schatz from Hawaii, Chris Coons from Delaware and Chris Murphy from Connecticut cast the reported gift of the Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a clear conflict of interest and a serious threat to national security. 'Air Force Once is more than just a plane – it's a symbol of the presidency and of the United States itself,' the senators said in a joint statement. 'No one should use public service for personal gain through foreign gifts.' News of a possible gift of the luxury jet prompted immediate scathing criticism from senior Democrats. Though the Qatari government has stressed that no final decision has yet been made, Trump appeared to confirm it on Sunday when he commented on social media that the transfer was being made 'in a very public and transparent transaction'. Related: Trump says planned gift of luxury plane from Qatar is a very 'transparent' deal The plan appears to be for the 13-year-old plane to be fitted out by the US military for use as Air Force One and then, when Trump leaves the White House, for it to be put on display in his presidential library – in effect being handed to Trump for his own personal use. The reported arrangement comes as Trump sets off for a tour of the Middle East, including Qatar. Another of the countries on the tour, the United Arab Emirates, has also become embroiled in controversy over potential conflicts of interest involving Trump. Last week it was revealed that an investment firm based in Abu Dhabi had injected $2bn into a stablecoin venture launched by Trump's World Liberty Financial crypto company as an investment into the crypto exchange Binance. Senate Democrats are also gearing up to challenge Trump's conflicts of interest under congressional rules governing the sale of military weapons to foreign countries. Murphy, the senator from Connecticut who has been at the forefront of sounding the alarm over conflicts of interest in the second Trump administration, has said he will use his powers to challenge arms sales as a way of forcing a full debate and Senate vote on both the Qatar plane and UAE stablecoin issues. He said on social media that he would object to 'any military deal with a nation that is paying off Trump personally – we can't act like this is normal foreign policy'. He added: 'UAE's investment in Trump crypto and Qatar's gifting of a plane is nuclear grade graft.' In an earlier post on Bluesky, Murphy described the idea of Qatar handing over the jet as being 'just wildly illegal'. Trump has so far brushed aside the Democratic fury. He praised Qatar's offer on Monday as a 'great gesture' and said he would 'never be one to turn down that kind of offer'.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Claims Qatar Is Giving Him $400 Million Jet Out of Goodness of Their Heart
Donald Trump doesn't see why everyone is so concerned that he accepted a $400 million jet from the Qatari government — one that will serve as the new Air Force Once, and which the president will reportedly retain through his presidential library fund after he leaves office. '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. More from Rolling Stone John Oliver Takes Aim at Trump's 'Creepy' Comments About Dolls Elon Musk's Regulatory Woes Are Conveniently Vanishing Under Trump 'Children Will Die:' Democrats Raise Alarm About GOP Efforts to Cut Medicaid Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
Irish Daily Star
06-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Star
Trump 'shows world he's never changed a diaper' with baffling Air Force One comment
The dad-of-five displayed his lack of parenting knowledge in a new interview on Air Force Once, according to observers. President Donald Trump has been slammed for an interview on Air Force One Monday as he seemed to not know what a stroller is. His baffling comment came Monday evening when Trump was telling a reporter about inflation and the cost of household items "being down" — after recent White House comments about online shopping businesses implementing tariff fees. He seemed to acknowledge that the cost of strollers was unchanged, but the exact term appeared to escape him. "All costs are down," he boasted. "Other than, the thing you can carry babies around in." He made an awkward swaying motion as he was explaining his thoughts to the News Nation reporter. X users were quick to troll Trump in the comments. "Way to tell the whole world you've never changed a diaper," Democrat Rep. Ayanna Pressley wrote. "The term you're looking for is 'stroller' or 'car seat' Donald, And you need one of those to take your kid home from the hospital." "I don't think he even changes his own loaded diapers!" another joked. "Babies make Trump nervous because he knows deep down that they are smarter than him," a third chimed. On Tuesday, Trump is set for a crunch meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The high-stakes meeting comes as Trump continues his trade war and annexation threats. Carney's Liberal Party scored a stunning comeback victory in a vote widely seen as a rebuke of Trump, whose trade war and attacks on Canadian sovereignty outraged voters. 'We are meeting as heads of our government,' Carney said. 'I am not pretending those discussions will be easy.' In his first comments since election night, Carney said that Canadians elected a new government to stand up to Trump and build a strong economy. Carney also said that King Charles III will deliver a speech outlining the Canadian government's priorities on May 27, when Parliament resumes. Charles is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies.
