Latest news with #TrumpFoundation
Wall Street Journal
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Mediator Proposes $20 Million Settlement in Trump's CBS Suit
A mediator has proposed that President Trump and Paramount Global PARA -0.08%decrease; red down pointing triangle settle his lawsuit over a CBS News '60 Minutes' interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris for $20 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The proposal would include a $17 million donation to Trump's presidential foundation or museum, the people said. It would also include millions more in legal fees and public service announcements on Paramount-owned networks to fight antisemitism, the people said.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Qatar pushes back on reports of $400M Boeing jet gift to Trump
Qatari officials have described reports that the country's royal family is gifting a $400 million Boeing jet to President Donald Trump as 'inaccurate.' ABC News reported Sunday that the plane would be available to President Donald Trump to use as the new Air Force One until shortly before his departure, at which point it will be transferred to the foundation responsible for the Trump presidential library. The president has made it no secret that he is tired of waiting for Boeing to produce a new Air Force One to replace the current planes, two modified 747-200 jumbo jets known by the model number VC-25A, which date from 1990. Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar's Media Attaché to the US, told Politico that the deal involving the plane had yet to be finalized. 'The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar's Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made,' Al-Ansari said. In February, Trump said he was 'not happy' with the slow progress and cost overruns on the new presidential aircraft, which were ordered in 2018, during his first term. The Wall Street Journal first reported that the federal government is hiring defense contractor L3Harris to refurbish a Boeing 747 previously used by the Qatari government. It now appears that the plane will be gifted to the U.S. next week during Trump's first official foreign trip, barring the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. ABC's report cites sources that are familiar with the arrangements. Trump toured the plane in February when it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport. It is said to be so opulently configured that it has been referred to as a 'flying palace.' The president hit out at those who were critical of the gift in a post on TruthSocial. '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.' Meanwhile, the arrangement has set off alarm bells about the legality of accepting such a valuable gift from a foreign government under the Constitution's emoluments clause. The clause prohibits any government official from accepting gifts from 'any King, Prince or foreign State.' Qatar is a U.S. ally and major diplomatic force in the Middle East. Sources told ABC News that lawyers for the White House counsel's office and the Department of Justice drafted an analysis for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that concluded it is legal for the Department of Defense to accept the aircraft as a gift and later turn it over to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. They claim it does not violate bribery laws as it is not conditioned on any official act and is not being given to an individual, but rather to the Air Force and then the Trump library. Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House lawyer David Warrington said it would be 'legally permissible' for the donation of the aircraft to be conditioned on transferring its ownership to Trump's presidential library before the end of his term, and not the president, personally, the sources told the network. They said Bondi provided a legal memorandum on the matter to the White House counsel's office last week after her advice was sought on the legalities of the gift. Nevertheless, Democrats and even Trump's far-right ally Laura Loomer have condemned the reported arrangement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X: 'Nothing says 'America First' like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It's not just bribery, it's premium foreign influence with extra legroom.' There were similar allegations from others on social media. Axios reports that Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York wrote to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the acting Department of Defense inspector general, and the Office of Government Ethics requesting a probe into the matter. The Democratic National Committee called it Trump's 'latest grift.' Loomer also posted her disapproval: '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.' 'The Qataris fund the same Iranian proxies in Hamas and Hezbollah who have murdered U.S. Service Members. The same proxies that have worked with the Mexican cartels to get jihadists across our border,' she continued, pushing a far-right conspiracy theory. 'This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true. And I say that as someone who would take a bullet for Trump. I'm so disappointed.' Any aircraft used to transport the president must meet strict U.S. military specifications, and so the 13-year-old plane will initially be transferred to the Air Force for modifications. The full scope of modifications is unknown, but existing planes include radiation shielding, a variety of communications systems, and anti-missile technology. Notably, neither the Qatari plane nor the upcoming VC-25B aircraft being built by Boeing will have the air-to-air refueling capabilities of the current presidential plane, allowing it to stay airborne essentially indefinitely and with unlimited range. Once modified, Trump will be able to use the aircraft until January 1, 2029, when it will be transferred to the library, less than three weeks before his term ends. The Air Force will pay for any costs relating to its transfer, the sources told ABC News. Boeing estimated that the new Air Force One planes currently on order will not be ready until 2029. Trump asked Elon Musk to work with them on the project, and an updated timeline of 2027 was given, though the president was insistent that he wants a new plane this year. Trump will make his first official foreign trip of his second term this coming week, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The focus will be on 'economic agreements.' The Trump Organization, run by the president's two eldest sons, has growing interests in the Middle East. An ethics agreement released by the company in January forbids deals with foreign governments but allows those with private companies.
The Independent
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Trump to get new ‘flying palace' Air Force One gift worth $400m during visit to Qatar, report says
The Trump administration is preparing to receive what is likely the most valuable gift ever given to the U.S. by a foreign government — a Boeing 747 -8 jumbo jet owned by Qatar 's royal family, with an estimated value of $400 million. ABC News reports that the plane will be made available to President Donald Trump to use as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which point it will be transferred to the foundation responsible for the Trump presidential library. The president has made it no secret that he is tired of waiting for Boeing to produce a new Air Force One to replace the current planes, two modified 747-200 jumbo jets known by the model number VC-25A, which date from 1990. In February, he said he was 'not happy' with the slow progress and cost overruns on the new presidential aircraft, which were ordered in 2018, during his first term. The Wall Street Journal first reported that the federal government is hiring defense contractor L3Harris to refurbish a Boeing 747 previously used by the Qatari government. It now appears that the plane will be gifted to the U.S. next week during Trump's first official foreign trip, barring the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. ABC's reporting cites sources familiar with the arrangements. Trump toured the plane in February when it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport. It is said to be so opulently configured that it has been referred to as a 'flying palace.' The arrangement has set off alarm bells about the legality of accepting such a valuable gift from a foreign government under the Constitution's emoluments clause, which prohibits any government official from accepting gifts from 'any King, Prince or foreign State.' Qatar is a U.S. ally and major diplomatic force in the Middle East. Sources told ABC News that lawyers for the White House counsel's office and the Department of Justice drafted an analysis for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that concluded it is legal for the Department of Defense to accept the aircraft as a gift and later turn it over to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. They claim it does not violate bribery laws as it is not conditioned on any official act and is not being given to an individual, but rather to the Air Force and then the Trump library. Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House lawyer David Warrington said it would be 'legally permissible' for the donation of the aircraft to be conditioned on transferring its ownership to Trump's presidential library before the end of his term, and not the president, personally, the sources told the network. They said Bondi provided a legal memorandum on the matter to the White House counsel's office last week after her advice was sought on the legalities of the gift. Any aircraft used to transport the president must meet strict U.S. military specifications, and so the 13-year-old plane will initially be transferred to the Air Force for modifications. The full scope of modifications is unknown, but existing planes include radiation shielding, a variety of communications systems, and anti-missile technology. Notably, neither the Qatari plane nor the upcoming VC-25B aircraft being built by Boeing will have the air-to-air refueling capabilities of the current presidential plane, allowing it to stay airborne essentially indefinitely and with unlimited range. Once modified, Trump will be able to use the aircraft until no later than January 1, 2029, when it will be transferred to the library, less than three weeks before his term ends. The Air Force will pay for any costs relating to its transfer, the sources told ABC News. Boeing estimated that the new Air Force One planes currently on order will not be ready until 2029. Trump asked Elon Musk to work with them on the project, and an updated timeline of 2027 was given, though the president was insistent that he wants a new plane this year. Trump will make his first official foreign trip of his second term this coming week, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, with the focus intended to be on 'economic agreements.' The Trump Organization, run by the president's two eldest sons, has growing interests in the Middle East. An ethics agreement released by the company in January forbids deals with foreign governments but allows those with private companies.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Feds Drop Probe for Trump Pal Vince McMahon Ahead of Wife's Confirmation Hearing
WWE legend Vince McMahon is no longer being probed for allegedly covering up a slew of sexual misconduct allegations, his lawyer's office confirmed to the Daily Beast on Wednesday. The federal probe, out of Manhattan, was dropped a day before McMahon's estranged wife, Linda, is scheduled for a confirmation hearing to become President Donald Trump's secretary of education. Vince McMahon, 79, has long been an ally of Trump, donating along with his wife a total of $9 million to the Trump Foundation in 2007 and 2009. More recently, Linda McMahon, 76, gave $6 million to a pro-Trump super PAC before his first term in office. Investigators said previously they had 'established probable cause' to believe McMahon and an ex-lawyer broke the law by creating 'false books,' circumventing WWE protocol, and made 'false and misleading statements' to company auditors. McMahon has denied any wrongdoing. His attorney, Robert W. Allen, emphasized that his case was dropped before a grand jury was asked to decide on whether it should indict McMahon, meaning he was never charged. 'We have been in consistent communication with the government and understand, with no ambiguity, that the investigation has definitively concluded and will not result in charges,' he told the Daily Beast in a statement. The closing of the investigation, first reported by the New York Post, seemingly ends an unsavory saga for the former face of the WWE, who was revealed in November to be separated from his wife after nearly six decades of marriage. Vince McMahon paid out more than $1.7 million in fines last month for failing to disclose to the wrestling company's board settlements related to sexual assault allegations, officials said, which caused errors on WWE's financial statements in 2018 and 2021. The secret payments that threw off the company's books—according to the Securities and Exchange Commission—were $3 million to a female WWE employee and $7.5 million to a female independent contractor. The SEC said those payments were to prevent them from filing sexual assault charges against him. McMahon has faced a number of allegations over the decades. He was accused of raping a former wrestling referee in a limousine in 1992 after she claims to have refused to give him oral sex. McMahon has always denied the allegation, despite a wrestler corroborating it in 2022. The matter was reportedly settled out of court. He was accused in 2006 of showing a woman naked photos of himself, groping her, and trying to kiss her inside a Florida tanning salon. Police documented the alleged incident and wrote in a report there was 'probable cause' to believe 'McMahon did actually and intentionally touch against the will' of the woman. Authorities ultimately decided to not press charges against McMahon, who had been in town for the Royal Rumble in Miami. Things appeared to really unravel for McMahon in 2022. That was the year allegations of cover-up payments and new sexual assault allegations emerged. He was pressured into resigning as WWE's CEO the following summer. He returned again months later, but once again resigned after another allegation cropped up. The most recent accusation came from Janel Grant, a woman who worked in WWE's legal and talent departments. She alleged that McMahon forced her into a sexual relationship and threatened to fire her if she didn't oblige. Grant added that McMahon allegedly sent around pornographic pictures and videos of her to other men in the company. She was identified as the recipient of McMahon's $3 million settlement that required her to sign a nondisclosure agreement, but she claimed in a lawsuit the CEO shorted her $2 million, allegedly making the NDA void. McMahon, as he has done in nearly every other instance, denied Grant's accusations.
