The Qataris may not be building Trump a palace, but they could end up giving him the next best thing – a $400 million 747 luxury aircraft that the president could utilize as Air Force One and then possibly keep after his presidency. As trip souvenirs go, it's one that won't fit in his carry-on, but as political headaches go, the intended gift could be a doozy. Democrats in Washington blasted the proposal as illegal, and even some Senate Republicans expressed concern about the undue influence and security risks involved.
Ethics experts have listed a range of Trump activities that could point to the president using his office to enrich himself or his family, such as a $TRUMP meme coin, plans for a new Trump hotel in Dubai and a new golf course in Qatar.
Trump didn't see a problem. Who turns down a free plane? "I mean, I could be a stupid person saying, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane'," he told reporters on Monday.
The president made clear this week he still hopes to reach an agreement with Iran to avoid a strike that would take out its nuclear program. And he suggested he would be willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey if it would help end Russia's war with Ukraine. (That's not happening—yet.)
He also managed to take some credit for cooling hostilities between India and Pakistan. "I said, you know, I could settle that up. I can settle anything," Trump told reporters on Thursday while on his way to the United Arab Emirates for the last leg of the trip.
Some critics have faulted Trump for practicing transactional diplomacy, one that prioritizes self-interest and short-term gain and eschews multi-national alliances, soft power and long-term strategic planning. But in Trump's world, there is the easy way and the hard way -- and as he made clear when talking about Iran earlier this week while heading to Qatar, he would rather go the easier route.
"Hopefully they're going to make the right decision because something's going to happen one way or the other," Trump said. "They can't have a nuclear weapon. So, we'll either do it friendly, or we'll do it very unfriendly and that won't be pleasant."
That sounds like a man who thinks war is bad for business.
Megyn Kelly -> Pete Hegseth responds to 2017 rape accusation. 🔥 vol. 3, issue 13 | December 6, 2024 Quick Hits All the news you need in...
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