President Trump lashed out at an ABC News reporter who suggested a 747 jet from Qatar was a potential bribe, declaring it was a gift to the Department of Defense and not him personally.
Quick Takes
- President Trump dismissed ABC’s Rachel Scott for suggesting Qatar’s gift of a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet violated the Emoluments Clause
- Trump clarified the aircraft would serve the Department of Defense, not his personal interests
- The White House stated legal advisors determined there was no impropriety in accepting the gift
- Qatar’s Media Attaché called reports of the gift “inaccurate” and said the matter remains under legal review
- Democrats, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, argue the gift requires Congressional approval under the Constitution
Trump Fires Back at Reporter’s ‘Bribe’ Allegations
During a tense exchange in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump sharply rebuked ABC News reporter Rachel Scott after she implied that a Boeing 747-8 aircraft from Qatar’s ruling family might be an improper gift. The confrontation occurred as Trump was signing an executive order, with Scott questioning whether the luxury aircraft could be interpreted as a personal bribe. Trump’s response was immediate and forceful, making no attempt to hide his frustration with both the reporter and her network. The exchange highlighted the ongoing contentious relationship between the president and certain media outlets he has repeatedly labeled as “fake news.”
Scott directly asked Trump: “What do you say to people who view that luxury jet as a personal gift to you?” The president’s response was swift and pointed, dismissing her question outright. “You’re ABC Fake News, right? … You should be embarrassed asking that question!” Trump continued, adding that the aircraft was “not a gift to me. It’s a gift to the Department of Defense, and you should know better, because you’ve been embarrassed enough and so has your network. Your network is a disaster. ABC is a disaster.”
Qatar’s Position and Legal Considerations
While the story gained significant traction in American media, Qatar’s representatives moved quickly to clarify their position. Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s Media Attaché to the United States, released a statement addressing the controversy. “Reports that a jet is being gifted by Qatar to the United States government during the upcoming visit of President Trump are inaccurate,” Al-Ansari wrote, indicating that the situation wasn’t as straightforward as initially reported. This contradiction between White House statements and Qatar’s official position added another layer of complexity to the already contentious issue.
“Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s Media Attaché to the U.S., told Newsweek in a Sunday afternoon email that reports are ‘inaccurate’ and that ‘the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments and no decision has been made.'”
According to reports, Department of Justice officials had concluded that the gift did not violate bribery laws or constitutional provisions. The aircraft, described by some as “a flying palace,” would reportedly be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library after his term ends. This arrangement, however, did little to quell concerns from critics who maintained that such a valuable gift—estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars—raised serious ethical questions regardless of its ultimate destination.
Constitutional Debate and Political Response
The controversy centers around the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits federal officeholders from accepting gifts or titles from foreign states without Congressional consent. Democrats in Congress were quick to challenge the White House’s interpretation of how this clause applies to the Qatar jet. Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a former constitutional law professor, was particularly vocal in arguing that the president’s acceptance of such a gift without Congressional approval would be unconstitutional, regardless of whether it eventually went to a presidential library.
“Representative Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat and former constitutional law professor, pushed back on the DOJ’s reported interpretation, writing on X, formerly Twitter: ‘Trump must seek Congress’ consent to take this $300 million gift from Qatar. The Constitution is perfectly clear: no present ‘of any kind whatever’ from a foreign state without Congressional permission. A gift you use for four years and then deposit in your library is still a gift (and a grift).'”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joined the chorus of critics, suggesting that accepting the Qatar gift undermined the president’s “America First” policy positions. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump by emphasizing that he had left a successful business career to serve in public office. The debate has extended beyond Washington, with some conservative activists also expressing concern about the appearance of impropriety, especially as Trump prepares for a Middle East trip that includes visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
Sources:
- Trump rips into reporter for implying Qatar gift is a bribe: ‘You should be embarrassed asking that question!’
- Trump Reportedly Getting Luxury Qatari Jet as Gift Sparks Fury—’Corruption’
