Tag Archives: Air Force One

New York Times: With Trump Visit, Qatar’s Image Makeover Scores Another Success

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The emirate, once called “a funder of terrorism” by President Trump, has spent lavishly on overhauling its global reputation.

The president, who has described the emir as a “great gentleman” and a “friend of mine,” is granting Qatar the honor of hosting one of the first foreign visits of his second term. As for the plane, the president says he would be “stupid” not to accept such a nice gift despite loud objections, not only from Democrats but from some of his most fervent MAGA supporters.

It is a dramatic turnaround for a small Persian Gulf country that Mr. Trump derided eight years ago as “a funder of terrorism at a very high level.” At that time, he cooperated with Qatar’s bitter rivals in the region — who imposed a punishing blockade on Doha — in calling for an end to what he described as the country’s “extremist ideology.”

Impeach! Impeach! Impeach!

https://archive.is/5Xbf6#selection-727.0-738.0

Alternet: Donald Trump just can’t resist the bribes | Opinion

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But one thing almost all Americans are firmly against — even many loyal Trumpers — [i]s bribery. And Trump is taking bigger and bigger bribes.

Yesterday it was reported that he’s accepting a luxury Boeing 747-8 plane worth at least $400 million from the Qatari royal family, for use during his presidency and for his personal use afterward.

Trump just can’t resist. He’s been salivating over the plane for months. It’s bigger and newer than Air Force One — and so opulently configured that it’s known as “a flying palace.” (No report on whether it contains a golden toilet.)

Apparently he’s been talking about the plane for months. In February, he toured it while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport.

He’s tried to redecorate the White House into a palace but that’s not nearly as satisfying as flying around the world in one, especially once he’s left the White House (assuming he will).

https://www.alternet.org/donald-trump-just-can-t-resist-the-bribes

The Grifter-in-Chief Goes to Qatar to Line His Pockets

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US President Donald Trump heads to the Gulf this week on a visit aimed at reaching security and technology deals, with his own family’s business dealings not far from the spotlight.

Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, which have collectively promised to invest more than $2 trillion in the US since he came to office. In return, Gulf states want concessions on chip sales and nuclear cooperation, Semafor’s Mohammed Sergie wrote.

The Gulf is Trump’s “happy place” because its leaders won’t criticize him, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted. That is helpful, given controversies surrounding Qatar’s offered donation of a presidential jet and his family’s crypto dealings in the region.

Inside the Qatari luxury jet on offer to President Donald Trump
Detailed specifications of a plane that appears to be the same one offered by Qatar to Trump are available online.

https://www.semafor.com/article/05/11/2025/inside-the-qatari-luxury-jet-on-offer-to-president-donald-trump

Fox News: Trump Says U.S. Doesn’t Need Canada After All

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So it was all just a bad dream?

Senility?

Dementia?

President Donald Trump appears to have had a change of heart about the United States taking over Canada, claiming that Americans “don’t need anything” from their northern neighbor.

Despite his repeated assertions that the sprawling, resource-rich country should become America’s 51st state, the president told reporters on Air Force One Sunday that the “golden age” is coming, sans Canada. “We have our own lumber and energy,” he said, referencing slated plans for levies on wood from north of the border. “We don’t need energy from Canada. We don’t need lumber from Canada. We don’t need anything from Canada. I believe this will be the golden age of America,” he added.

Last week, Trump spoke over the phone with the new Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney. Despite the ongoing trade war, the call was “very constructive,” Carney said. He added that Trump “respected Canada’s sovereignty” during the chat.

However, despite the apparent softening of hostilities, Trump launched the latest salvo in his trade war Wednesday, announcing a 25 percent tariff on auto imports beginning April 2.

Trump Says U.S. Doesn’t Need Canada After All
President Donald Trump appears to have had a change of heart about the United States taking over Canada, claiming that Americans “don’t need anything” from their northern neighbor. Despite his repeated assertions that the sprawling, resource-rich country should become America’s 51st state, the president told reporters on Air Force One Sunday that the “golden age” is coming, sans Canada. “We have our own lumber and energy,” he said, referencing…

Trump Says U.S. Doesn’t Need Canada After All

Alternet: ‘Blatant felony’: Internet celebrates as Wisconsin AG reveals ‘legal action’ against Musk

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Vote buying is illegal? What’s a poor billionaire to do?

‘Blatant felony’: Internet celebrates as Wisconsin AG reveals ‘legal action’ against Musk
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk could be in for a confrontation with law enforcement if he follows through on a planned visit to Wisconsin on Sunday. On Friday, Madison, Wisconsin ABC affiliate WKOW reported that Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul was announcing “legal action” against the South African centibillionaire after he offered a $2 milli…

‘Blatant felony’: Internet celebrates as Wisconsin AG reveals ‘legal action’ against Musk

New York Times: Inside Pete Hegseth’s Rocky First Months at the Pentagon

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The disclosure of battle plans on a chat app created a new predicament for the defense secretary.

There’s nothing that can’t be cured by few stiff drinks:

Even before he disclosed secret battle plans for Yemen in a group chat, information that could have endangered American fighter pilots, it had been a rocky two months for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Mr. Hegseth, a former National Guard infantryman and Fox News weekend host, started his job at the Pentagon determined to out-Trump President Trump, Defense Department officials and aides said.

The president is skeptical about the value of NATO and European alliances, so the Pentagon under Mr. Hegseth considered plans in which the United States would give up its command role overseeing NATO troops. After Mr. Trump issued executive orders targeting transgender people, Mr. Hegseth ordered a ban on transgender troops.

Mr. Trump has embraced Elon Musk, the billionaire chief executive of SpaceX and Tesla. The Pentagon planned a sensitive briefing to give Mr. Musk a firsthand look at how the military would fight a war with China, a potentially valuable step for any businessman with interests there.

Inside Pete Hegseth’s Rocky First Months at the Pentagon – The New York Times