Latest news with #ClintonFoundation
Gulf Insider
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Hillary Clinton Tries To Get Cute Over Qatar
Hillary Clinton can't help herself when it comes to President Trump, posting on X Wednesday 'No one gives someone a $400 million jet for free without expecting anything in return. Be serious,' in reference to Trump's acceptance of a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar's royal family. Everyone quickly pointed out the hypocrisy, given the Clinton Foundation's history of accepting substantial donations from Arab states, including Qatar, during her tenure as Secretary of State. The Clinton Foundation has received over $40 million from Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and even accepted a $1 million gift from Qatar in 2011 without informing the State Department, despite Clinton's agreement to disclose such contributions for review. No one gives someone a $400 million dollar jet for free without expecting anything in return. Be serious. — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 14, 2025 Respondents noted that Clinton's post, comments closed as ever, reopened scrutiny of her own ethical lapses, with many pointing out that she's the last person who should be commenting on this matter. what did Qatar want from you — Jerry Dunleavy IV 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy) May 14, 2025 Clinton's out here tweeting 'be serious' about Trump's plane while her Foundation's Qatari cash begs for a mirror. Reminder, the Clinton Foundation received more than $40 million from four Arab states including Qatar — Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) May 14, 2025 Click here to read more Also read: Boeing Wins Largest-ever Order From Qatar Airways: Trump
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As Trump struggles to defend Qatar's luxury jet ‘gift,' Republicans are divided
With just weeks remaining before Election Day 2016, Donald Trump faced off against Hillary Clinton for the third and final presidential debate of the cycle, and the Republican seemed eager to talk about the Clinton Foundation — or more specifically, it's Middle Eastern donors. 'Saudi Arabia giving $25 million, Qatar, all of these countries,' Trump said. 'You talk about women and women's rights? So these are people that push gays off buildings. These are people that kill women and treat women horribly. And yet you take their money.' After the election, the president continued down the same path, spending part of his first term condemning Qatar as a regressive state-sponsor of terrorism. His attitudes apparently evolved over time, however, especially as the Trump Organization pursued business opportunities in the Middle East. Now, nearly a decade after Trump condemned Clinton for being the indirect beneficiary of Qatari generosity, the Republican is eager to accept a superluxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from his friends in Qatar. A New York Times analysis highlighted the ways in which the president is raising red flags about corruption that eclipse some of the dramatic controversies from his first term. The administration's plan to accept a $400 million luxury jet from the Qatari royal family is only the latest example of an increasingly no-holds-barred atmosphere in Washington under Trump 2.0. Not only would the famously transactional chief executive be able to use the plane while in office, but he is also expected to transfer it to his presidential foundation once he leaves the White House. The second Trump administration is showing striking disdain for onetime norms of propriety and for traditional legal and political guardrails around public service. The analysis added that Trump doesn't fear legal consequences, since Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices effectively elevated the presidency above the law, and he doesn't fear congressional accountability, because obedient GOP lawmakers hold majorities in both chambers of Congress. It's that latter point that's of particular interest. 'The deeply chilling part of this bribe and national security betrayal from the president is just how blatant and erroneous what he's doing is,' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said as the controversy intensified. 'He's almost daring Republicans to stand up to him and defend our country.' The New York Democrat added, 'So, where are our Republican friends with this kind of egregious, grubby, awful self-enrichment?' It's hardly an unreasonable question. This apparent arrangement raises legal, ethical, political, mechanical, financial, and national security concerns. Are there any GOP lawmakers prepared to acknowledge reality? To date, no Senate Republicans have publicly called on the White House to reject the 'gift,' but some came close. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, for example, described the plan as 'a mistake' and 'not worth the appearance of impropriety.' Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina also sounded a note of skepticism, while Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin called Qatar's offer 'pretty strange.' But other GOP partisans were quick to say what the president wanted them to say. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, for example, compared the jet to France gifting the U.S. the Statue of Liberty — I don't think he was kidding — while Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma suggested Congress would gladly approve the arrangement. My personal favorite was Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who said, ''Gosh, let me give you a plane.' I mean, that seems pretty nice, but they support Hamas, so I don't know.' As the president continues to struggle to come up with a coherent defense, Senate Democrats are planning to force a vote in the coming days on a resolution disapproving of the plan. Watch this space. This article was originally published on
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
MAGA ally Ben Shapiro goes scorched earth on Trump for 'taking sacks of goodies' from Qatar
President Donald Trump 's willingness to accept a $400 million 'flying palace' from Qatar has enraged yet another MAGA ally, with Ben Shapiro savaging the deal. Trump has repeatedly hit out at critics of the deal, which would see him accept an opulent Boeing 747 as a gift from the Qatari royal family to use as Air Force One for the remainder of his presidential term. In a stunning sign of friendship, the royal family have reportedly offered to have ownership of the plane transferred to Trump's presidential library foundation at the end of his term. Shapiro weighed in on the controversy on Monday, blasting the arrangement as 'skeezy' in a scorched earth rant against Qatar's corruption and efforts to influence American politics. 'Qatar is not allegedly giving President Trump a $400 million jet out of the goodness of their sweet little hearts, no matter what special envoy Steve Witkoff says,' Shapiro said. 'They try to stuff money in pockets in totally bipartisan fashion. Qatar will court anyone it thinks will have power. Republican or Democrat. 'It's an equal opportunity influencer - as long as you can help whitewash their image or smooth over the fact that they are in fact the world's largest proponents of terrorism on an international scale.' Shapiro pointed out that Qatar gave a $1 million donation to the Clinton Foundation for Bill Clinton's birthday when Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State. Trump has repeatedly hit out at critics of the deal, which would see him accept an opulent Boeing 747 as a gift from the Qatari royal family to use as Air Force One for the remainder of his presidential term At the time, Trump was outraged and demanded she return any money accepted from places like Qatar, due to their human rights records. Trump campaigned on a vow to 'drain the swamp', as well as a promise to be tough on Hamas and support Israel. Qatar has been a key financial supporter of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas, but has also assisted in key negotiations for the exchange of hostages. 'Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Jazeera, all the rest — that's not America First,' Shapiro said. 'Is this good for President Trump? Is it good for his agenda? Is it good for draining the swamp and getting things done? The answer is no, it isn't. It isn't. If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of "skeezy" stuff needs to stop.' Shapiro warned Trump: 'Taking jets from Qatar is not the way. Taking real estate deals from Qatar is not the way. The largest obstacle to any administration is scandal. 'Scandal-plagued administrations have a really tough time gathering the political capital necessary to actually effectuate their agenda, and that's why it's unbelievably important that the Trump administration avoid scandal. That is the reason I am worried about this stuff.' He went on to argue that if 'we switched the names to Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, we'd all be freaking out on the right.' Shapiro's criticism comes after MAGA influencer Laura Loomer lashed out over the same deal, writing on X: '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.' Fox News host and Trump ally Mark Levin also weighed in on Sunday, sharing Loomer's post in full and writing 'ditto', before launching into his own criticism. 'Qatar must stop buying our colleges and universities and spreading their anti-American, Jew-hating propaganda and funding terrorist groups and front groups. 'Their jet and all the other things they are buying in our country does not provide them with the cover they seek. It is a terror state. That is beyond dispute or their bank accounts.' Trump initially defended the deal on Sunday night, which up until that point was not confirmed. '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,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. He said Democrats 'insist we pay TOP DOLLAR for the plane... The Dems are World Class Losers!!!! MAGA.' He then doubled down during a press conference on Monday morning, attacking a reporter from ABC, who broke the story, for questioning his decision, before noting: 'I think it's a great gesture from Qatar. 'I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.' Trump also blamed Boeing, arguing he would not be in want of a new presidential plane if the manufacturer had completed their contract for two new jets in time. Boeing has fallen so behind on the $3.9 billion project that it now fears it won't be able to finish building the planes before Trump leaves office. They were supposed to be finished last year, but a series of supplier and engineering snags has caused the project to take years and go billions over budget. '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.' Trump said he would not use the plane after leaving office, but would decommission it and out it in his presidential library - similar to Ronald Reagan's. Speaking to Politico on the condition of anonymity, one Trump insider said: 'Trump is able to compartmentalize the Qatar situation. 'He looks at them and says, "They're a very wealthy country, we've got a big base there, they're investing huge amounts in America, they seem to be well connected to our enemies so if we need to talk to somebody, they're around, they seem to like us, they treat us nicely. They give us lots of things, so on that level, all good".' Despite extensive backlash across both sides of the political divide, Trump's advisors and experts maintain there are no legal challenges if he decides to accept the gift. White House press secretary Karoline Leavit t railed against suggestions of impropriety, issuing a statement which said: 'President Trump's Administration is committed to full transparency. 'Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws.' In a sign that the administration anticipated backlash over the gift, Attorney General Pam Bondi has reportedly investigated the legality of accepting it. She determined that because the gift is not conditional it would not constitute bribery. Similarly, it would not run afoul of Constitutional limits to foreign gifts because the plane would be handed first to the United States Air Force and eventually to the presidential library foundation - not to any one individual, sources told the ABC. Bondi served as a foreign agent and lobbyist for the Embassy of the State of Qatar prior to returning to politics and joining Trump's cabinet. In her role advocating Qatari interests, she earned as much as $115,0000 per month.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Clinton Cracks Trump Joke at Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial
At a solemn memorial for the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, Bill Clinton decided to lighten the mood with a crack at Donald Trump—before delivering a pointed critique of modern political division. 'I'm old and I can't run for anything anymore,' the 78-year-old former president told the crowd in downtown Oklahoma City on Saturday. 'I'm almost as old as President Trump!' The quip drew laughter from the crowd, but Clinton quickly pivoted to more serious matters, urging Americans to abandon grievance politics and embrace the so-called 'Oklahoma Standard'—a post-tragedy display of kindness, respect, and unity. 'Everybody is arguing about whose resentments matter most,' he said. 'If our lives are going to be dominated by the effort to dominate people we disagree with, we're going to put the 250-year march toward a more perfect union at risk.' Clinton was in office during the 1995 domestic terror attack, in which anti-government extremists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols parked a truck filled with explosives outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which was home to the America's Kids Day Care Center. It detonated at 9 a.m. as employees were starting their day, killing 168 people, including 19 children. 'The nation's eyes were there. The nation's heart was broken there,' Clinton said in a separate reflection posted by the Clinton Foundation. The speech was delivered at First Church, with the victims' names read aloud and survivors in attendance. Clinton's warning about the dangers of political polarization is hard to miss when confronted with the rubble of the Murrah building. And yes, in case you're wondering, Clinton is in fact younger than Trump. Despite public perception skewing the other way, Trump was born on June 14, 1946, while Clinton was born on August 19 of the same year, making the current president his senior by about two months.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill Clinton Returns to Oklahoma City on 30th Anniversary of Bombing: ‘America Needs the Oklahoma Standard'
Bill Clinton returned to Oklahoma City to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing — which remains the deadliest domestic terrorist attack in U.S. history. Clinton, who was president during the attack that killed 168 people, including 19 children, and injured over 600 others, spoke downtown at the First Church on Saturday, April 19. He honored the victims, survivors, first responders and all those affected by the tragedy. During his remarks, which were broadcasted for viewing by the Clinton Foundation, Clinton implored the country to adopt the 'Oklahoma Standard' of unity. 'Everybody is arguing about whose resentments matter most. Whose resentments are more valid,' he said of the current state of politics. Related: Where Are the Survivors of the Oklahoma City Bombing Today? Here's How Young Victims Remember the Day, 30 Years Later 'If our lives are gonna be dominated by the effort to dominate people we disagree with, we're gonna put the 250 year march toward a more perfect union at risk,' he continued, before saying that today's America should come together in 'service, honor and kindness' — just as the people of Oklahoma did after the deadly attack. On April 19, 1995, a truck filled with explosives was parked outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The explosives detonated just after 9 a.m. local time as employees were beginning their work day. The attack was planned and executed by former Army sergeant and Gulf War veteran, Timothy McVeigh, and his co-conspirator, Terry Nichols. In a video posted on the Clinton Foundation website on April 11, Clinton recalled the day of the historic event. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'The nation's eyes were there. The nation's heart was broken there,' he said. 'I was privately praying that I would find the right words, the right tone, the right rhythm to somehow get into the mind and heart of as many Americans as possible,' he recalled. Related: Okla. City Bombing Survivor Made a Promise to Herself Under Rubble — Now She's a CEO: 'Keep Going' Kari Watkins, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, told PEOPLE in 2020 that 'We were defined not by the tragedy, but by the tenderness of the response. Instead of running away from the building in fear, people rushed toward it to help." Read the original article on People
