Latest news with #TrumpGift
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Said Qatar Gifted Him A $400 Million Jet, But Insiders Say The US Initiated The Deal
President Donald Trump's claim that Qatar presented him with a luxury Boeing 747 as a personal "gift" is now being questioned by several insiders familiar with the negotiations. Despite Trump's repeated hints that the offer came unsolicited from Qatar's leadership, CNN sources say it was actually the Trump administration that initiated the discussions. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — What Happened: According to insiders, the administration began to look for a replacement for Air Force One soon after Trump took office. When Boeing implied that their new aircraft would not be ready until at least 2027, other options came to the forefront, according to CNN. Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was asked to identify potential planes, and Boeing later pointed the Pentagon to clients with appropriate aircraft. Qatar was one of them, and US officials initiated communications to explore a possible lease or purchase. Trump, however, wrote on Truth Social that the plane was "a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE" from Qatar's royal family. He also told Fox News that Qatar's leader presented the plane after hearing about the Air Force One delay, labelling it "a great gesture."Why It Matters: The Boeing-manufactured jet, valued at around $400 million, has been a source of major controversy since the "gift" became public knowledge. Former Vice President Mike Pence urged the President to reject it. Former Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley said "accepting gifts from foreign nations is never a good practice" and "threatens intelligence and national security." Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers labelled it "banana-republic-level corruption" and economist Peter Schiff was also sharply critical of the arrangement. The White House, however, says the deal is being managed as a formal government-to-government transfer, subject to legal and ethical review. Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani stressed that the negotiations are strictly between defense ministries. Aviation experts have warned that it could take years to convert the jet to make it suitable for presidential use, and cost up to $1 billion. Read Next: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — Invest before it's too late. 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.30/share with a $1000 minimum. Photo courtesy: Shutterstock Send To MSN: Send to MSN Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Trump Said Qatar Gifted Him A $400 Million Jet, But Insiders Say The US Initiated The Deal originally appeared on Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Qatar prime minister says $400m gifts are ‘normal' between friends, following Trump jet criticism
The prime minister of Qatar has again defended the decision to gift President Donald Trump a $400 million luxury aircraft, saying that such exchanges between friendly nations wereare 'normal.' Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani dismissed accusations that the move was being used by Qatar to curry favor with the president and his administration for some kind of payoff in the future. It comes after the White House announced that Trump would be accepting the aircraft, described as a 'flying palace' due to its luxurious interior, from the Qatari royal family as a replacement for Air Force One. The announcement has ignited controversy and triggered ethics complaints at home that cast a long shadow over the president's visit to the Middle East last week. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday, Al-Thani said a 'lot of controversy has been created' out of what he called 'an exchange between two countries,' adding that no business was being done 'under the table.' 'Our intention is to have a very clear exchange that the U.S. is in need for…To accelerate a temporary Air Force One,' he said. 'Qatar has the ability to provide this, we stepped up.' He added: 'A lot of nations have gifted the U.S. many things,' before appearing to make a joking reference to the Statue of Liberty – which was given to America by the French in 1884. Trump previously insisted throughout his trip to the Gulf that the plane was a present from one of America's key regional allies, describing it as 'A GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE' on Truth Social, and saying that only a 'stupid person' would have refused it. His position was reiterated by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday. She described the jet as a 'donation to our country,' saying that Qatar's royal family 'has offered to donate this plane to the United States Air Force, where that donation will be accepted according to all legal and ethical obligations.' At his forum remarks on Tuesday Al-Thani echoed the White House's sentiment, saying the transaction is being done with 'full transparency and very legally,' and was simply part of the long-standing cooperative relationship cooperation between Qatar and the U.S. He said that allegations of bribery were unfair efforts to sully his country's image. The U.S. Constitution's emoluments clause prohibits any government official from accepting gifts from 'any King, Prince or foreign State.' It's unclear if the aircraft would be a gift to the U.S. or to Trump since it was initially reported it would go to Trump's own presidential library at the end of his term. Beyond the constitutional ban, gifts are 'designed to create good feelings for the recipient and to get some kind of reciprocity," Richard Briffault, a Columbia Law School professor who specializes in government ethics, told NPR. 'The thing that [Trump] can give, of course, is public policy — weapons deals or whatever." Trump also has personal business dealings in Qatar. The Trump Organization last month announced a deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar. "Clearly he [Trump] is trying to make money there, and that puts us in an uncomfortable situation," said Jordan Libowitz, spokesperson for the nonprofit watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "Is America's best interest being served, or is it the best interests of the Trump Organization?" CNN reported Tuesday that it was the Trump administration that had originally approached Qatar about the possibility of acquiring one of its Boeing 747 jumbo jets. The outlet cited several unnamed sources.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Qatar prime minister says $400m gifts are ‘normal' between friends, following Trump jet criticism
The prime minister of Qatar has again defended the decision to gift President Donald Trump a $400 million luxury aircraft, saying that such exchanges between friendly nations wereare 'normal.' Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani dismissed accusations that the move was being used by Qatar to curry favor with the president and his administration for some kind of payoff in the future. It comes after the White House announced that Trump would be accepting the aircraft, described as a 'flying palace' due to its luxurious interior, from the Qatari royal family as a replacement for Air Force One. The announcement has ignited controversy and triggered ethics complaints at home that cast a long shadow over the president's visit to the Middle East last week. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday, Al-Thani said a 'lot of controversy has been created' out of what he called 'an exchange between two countries,' adding that no business was being done 'under the table.' 'Our intention is to have a very clear exchange that the U.S. is in need for…To accelerate a temporary Air Force One,' he said. 'Qatar has the ability to provide this, we stepped up.' He added: 'A lot of nations have gifted the U.S. many things,' before appearing to make a joking reference to the Statue of Liberty – which was given to America by the French in 1884. Trump previously insisted throughout his trip to the Gulf that the plane was a present from one of America's key regional allies, describing it as 'A GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE' on Truth Social, and saying that only a 'stupid person' would have refused it. His position was reiterated by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday. She described the jet as a 'donation to our country,' saying that Qatar's royal family 'has offered to donate this plane to the United States Air Force, where that donation will be accepted according to all legal and ethical obligations.' At his forum remarks on Tuesday Al-Thani echoed the White House's sentiment, saying the transaction is being done with 'full transparency and very legally,' and was simply part of the long-standing cooperative relationship cooperation between Qatar and the U.S. He said that allegations of bribery were unfair efforts to sully his country's image. The U.S. Constitution's emoluments clause prohibits any government official from accepting gifts from 'any King, Prince or foreign State.' It's unclear if the aircraft would be a gift to the U.S. or to Trump since it was initially reported it would go to Trump's own presidential library at the end of his term. Beyond the constitutional ban, gifts are 'designed to create good feelings for the recipient and to get some kind of reciprocity," Richard Briffault, a Columbia Law School professor who specializes in government ethics, told NPR. 'The thing that [Trump] can give, of course, is public policy — weapons deals or whatever." Trump also has personal business dealings in Qatar. The Trump Organization last month announced a deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar. "Clearly he [Trump] is trying to make money there, and that puts us in an uncomfortable situation," said Jordan Libowitz, spokesperson for the nonprofit watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "Is America's best interest being served, or is it the best interests of the Trump Organization?" CNN reported Tuesday that it was the Trump administration that had originally approached Qatar about the possibility of acquiring one of its Boeing 747 jumbo jets. The outlet cited several unnamed sources.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Trump insiders shed light on Qatar's $400 million jet offer
A damning new report has thrown cold water on President Donald Trump's repeated claims that Qatari officials have offered him their $400 million jumbo jet as a 'gift' to replace aging Air Force One planes. Trump has boasted on his Truth Social page that the private Boeing 747 is a 'GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE,' and it would be a temporary replacement for Air Force One. Afterward, it would be donated to his presidential library. Leaders on both sides of the aisle have criticized the president over the supposed gift - urging him to be wary of accepting a 'bribe.' But CNN now reports that the Trump administration had actually first reached out to Qatari officials about the jet they had been trying to sell since at least 2020. The network claims that Boeing had informed the Trump administration shortly after he took office in January that the company would not be able to deliver replacement parts for the aging presidential jets until 2027. At that point, the White House Military Office - which oversees presidential travel - worked with Boeing and the Department of Defense to compile a list of every late model 747 on the market with a business-jet layout, which could easily be retrofitted into a presidential plane. However, only eight planes in the world fit the bill - including the flashy double decker Qatari jet, according to the New York Times. It wound up greatly appealing to President Trump, with its brochure boasting 'soft fabrics of the highest quality' in the bedroom along with 'luxurious leather and exquisite wood veneers' and a 'lavishly designed bathroom' that is 'almost a piece of art.' At that point, Trump ordered Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (pictured) to begin negotiations with Qatari officials with whom he was intimately familiar after the country's sovereign wealth fund bailed him out of a failed real estate deal in New York City in 2023. By mid-February, the Times reports, Qatar agreed to send the jet to Florida while Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago resort so he could see it first hand. He was apparently taken away with the jet that features a master bedroom, a guest bedroom, two full bathrooms with showers, nine smaller lavatories, five small kitchens, and a private office. It also comes with oversized couches and recliners, wood paneling, and more than 40 televisions, including 10 big-screen TVs. But with all of the features, aerospace engineer Marc Foulkrod said there would be a limited number of prospective buyers. The major airlines would not be interested in purchasing the plane because it was not configured for commercial use, he explained. The plane also has four engines and is expensive to maintain and operate. Getting parts over time will also become more difficult as the model is no longer manufactured. But, Foulkrod said, 'You might find that one-off guy that has a super ego that wants to buy one and ride around in it.' It now appears the Qatari officials found that 'guy' with Trump, who the Times reports was left marveling at what he had seen as he was forced to fly back to Washington DC on one of the existing Air Force One 747s. From there, negotiations with Qatari officials ramped up. Yet the initial discussions centered around the possibility of leasing the plane rather than buying it. It is now unclear when the conversations shifted from buying the luxury jet to accept a government-to-government gift. One senior White House official claimed that Qatar first raised the option of offing the jet as a potential gift - or at least that Qatari officials were 'agreeable' to the idea of a no-charge, government-to-government transfer when it came up. A second official claimed Witkoff had always believed the transaction would be a donation, while a third claimed Qatari officials volunteered the idea of a donation. Ultimately, White House officials said they came to the conclusion that a donation would be simpler and quicker than a sale. But Qatari officials reportedly believed they were selling the jet, with one official telling the Times that no decision has been made yet about transferring the plane to the United States and that legal Qatar's Defense Ministry and the US Department of Defense are still reviewing the legal terms. 'This is a very simple government-to-government dealing when Ministry of Defense and Department of Defense are still exchanging the possibility of transferring one of our 747-8 to be used as Air Force One and it's still under legal review,' Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told CNN. 'At the end of the day, if there is something that the US [needs] and it's completely legal and we can, we are able to help and to support the US, then we are not shying away.' He added that 'of course the offer would be withdrawn if the transaction were deemed illegal.' Meanwhile, the White House has doubled down on its assertion that it is getting the new plane for free from Qatar. On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the plane is a 'donation to our country,' adding that the government and the royal family 'has offered to donate this plane to the United States Air Force, where the donation will be accepted according to all legal and ethical obligations.' But the news of the gifted plane sent politicians worrying about its legal and ethical consequences. 'The Constitution in Article II talks about how the president can't take emoluments or gifts from foreign leaders,' Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky., said on Fox News. 'We're not talking about a ride on the plane; we're talking about the entire $400 million plane. I think it's not worth the appearance of impropriety.' The Constitution states that no president should accept 'any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever,' without 'the consent of the Congress.' Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., also told reporters: 'It would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America.' Trump's home state senator, Florida Republican Rick Scott, was more blunt in his assessment. 'I'm not flying on a Qatari plane,' Scott said. 'They support Hamas. I don't know how you make it safe.' But Trump has since hit out at his detractors as he expressed his concern that his 2018 order for new planes to replace the aging fleet has been continuously delayed by Boeing. '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,' the president posted online. 'Anybody can do that! The Dems are world class losers!' Trump sneered.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Trump insiders reveal true story behind $400 million luxury jet from Qatar
A damning new report has thrown cold water on President Donald Trump 's repeated claims that Qatari officials have offered him their $400 million jumbo jet as a 'gift' to replace aging Air Force One planes. Trump has boasted on his Truth Social page that the private Boeing 747 is a 'GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE,' and it would be a temporary replacement for Air Force One. Afterward, it would be donated to his presidential library. Leaders on both sides of the aisle have criticized the president over the supposed gift - urging him to be wary of accepting a 'bribe.' But CNN now reports that the Trump administration had actually first reached out to Qatari officials about the jet they had been trying to sell since at least 2020. The network claims that Boeing had informed the Trump administration shortly after he took office in January that the company would not be able to deliver replacement parts for the aging presidential jets until 2027. At that point, the White House Military Office - which oversees presidential travel - worked with Boeing and the Department of Defense to compile a list of every late model 747 on the market with a business-jet layout, which could easily be retrofitted into a presidential plane. However, only eight planes in the world fit the bill - including the flashy double decker Qatari jet, according to the New York Times. It wound up greatly appealing to President Trump, with its brochure boasting 'soft fabrics of the highest quality' in the bedroom along with 'luxurious leather and exquisite wood veneers' and a 'lavishly designed bathroom' that is 'almost a piece of art.' At that point, Trump ordered Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to begin negotiations with Qatari officials with whom he was intimately familiar after the country's sovereign wealth fund bailed him out of a failed real estate deal in New York City in 2023. By mid-February, the Times reports, Qatar agreed to send the jet to Florida while Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago resort so he could see it first hand. He was apparently taken away with the jet that features a master bedroom, a guest bedroom, two full bathrooms with showers, nine smaller lavatories, five small kitchens, and a private office. It also comes with oversized couches and recliners, wood paneling, and more than 40 televisions, including 10 big-screen TVs. But with all of the features, aerospace engineer Marc Foulkrod said there would be a limited number of prospective buyers. The major airlines would not be interested in purchasing the plane because it was not configured for commercial use, he explained. The plane also has four engines and is expensive to maintain and operate. Getting parts over time will also become more difficult as the model is no longer manufactured. But, Foulkrod said, 'You might find that one-off guy that has a super ego that wants to buy one and ride around in it.' It now appears the Qatari officials found that 'guy' with Trump, who the Times reports was left marveling at what he had seen as he was forced to fly back to Washington DC on one of the existing Air Force One 747s. From there, negotiations with Qatari officials ramped up. Yet the initial discussions centered around the possibility of leasing the plane rather than buying it. It is now unclear when the conversations shifted from buying the luxury jet to accept a government-to-government gift. One senior White House official claimed that Qatar first raised the option of offing the jet as a potential gift - or at least that Qatari officials were 'agreeable' to the idea of a no-charge, government-to-government transfer when it came up. A second official claimed Witkoff had always believed the transaction would be a donation, while a third claimed Qatari officials volunteered the idea of a donation. Ultimately, White House officials said they came to the conclusion that a donation would be simpler and quicker than a sale. But Qatari officials reportedly believed they were selling the jet, with one official telling the Times that no decision has been made yet about transferring the plane to the United States and that legal Qatar's Defense Ministry and the US Department of Defense are still reviewing the legal terms. 'This is a very simple government-to-government dealing when Ministry of Defense and Department of Defense are still exchanging the possibility of transferring one of our 747-8 to be used as Air Force One and it's still under legal review,' Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told CNN. 'At the end of the day, if there is something that the US [needs] and it's completely legal and we can, we are able to help and to support the US, then we are not shying away.' He added that 'of course the offer would be withdrawn if the transaction were deemed illegal.' Meanwhile, the White House has doubled down on its assertion that it is getting the new plane for free from Qatar. On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the plane is a 'donation to our country,' adding that the government and the royal family 'has offered to donate this plane to the United States Air Force, where the donation will be accepted according to all legal and ethical obligations.' But the news of the gifted plane sent politicians worrying about its legal and ethical consequences. 'The Constitution in Article II talks about how the president can't take emoluments or gifts from foreign leaders,' Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said on Fox News. 'We're not talking about a ride on the plane; we're talking about the entire $400 million plane. I think it's not worth the appearance of impropriety.' The Constitution states that no president should accept 'any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever,' without 'the consent of the Congress.' Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., also told reporters: 'It would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America.' Trump's home state senator, Florida Republican Rick Scott, was more blunt in his assessment. 'I'm not flying on a Qatari plane,' Scott said. 'They support Hamas. I don't know how you make it safe.' But Trump has since hit out at his detractors as he expressed his concern that his 2018 order for new planes to replace the aging fleet has been continuously delayed by Boeing. '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,' the president posted online. 'Anybody can do that! The Dems are world class losers!' Trump sneered.
