Trump says he'd be 'stupid' to turn down Qatar's offer of a new plane [View all]
Source: NPR
Updated May 12, 2025 11:25 AM ET
President Trump on Monday scoffed at concerns raised about Qatar's offer to replace Air Force One with a luxury Boeing 747 jet, calling it a nice gesture that would be "stupid" to turn down.
The offer, which was first reported by ABC News, comes on the eve of Trump's visit to the Middle East. The president is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. It would be one of the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the U.S. government, and raises legal and ethical questions.
"I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane,' " he told reporters. "I thought it was a great gesture." Trump said the existing Air Force One jets were old and extremely expensive to maintain and said that replacements from Boeing had been delayed.
He told reporters that Qatar's leaders offered a replacement to use until new Air Force One jets are ready. Trump said it was not a gift to him — but a gift to the Defense Department, in recognition of the role the United States plays in security for the region. "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," he said.
Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/11/g-s1-65838/qatar-plane-trump
This is his "SQUIRREL!!!!!!" while his red state GOP loons throw their own under the bus by gutting Medicaid.
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