Associated Press: Coming to America? In 2025, the US to some looks less like a dream and more like a place to avoid

For centuries, people in other countries saw the United States as place of welcome and opportunity. Now, President Donald Trump’s drive for mass deportations of migrants is riling the streets of Los Angeles, college campuses, even churches — and fueling a global rethinking about the virtues and promise of coming to America.

“The message coming from Washington is that you are not welcome in the United States,” ….

https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-deportation-student-visa-c01ab48d12af9e832c7bd88036c79ae1

Daily Express: Qatar prime minister insists $400m gifts are ‘normal’ between friends – like he and Trump

Qatar’s Prime Minister has claimed the country’s $400 million “gift” to President Trump comes with no strings attached.

The Prime Minister of Qatar has defended the country’s $400 million gift to President Donald Trump, saying that such exchanges between friendly countries are “normal”.

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani commented on the accusations that Qatar was gifting the jet to Trump just to get on the President’s good side, saying that the gift is simply a donation to another world leader.

Baloney!

We’ll find out eventually when they call in the favor.

Rolling Stone: Scott Bessent Compares Trump’s Qatari Jet Gift to the Statue of Liberty

It’s not the same

No, Qatar‘s royal family gifting a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet known as a “flying palace” to the government that will reportedly then go to Donald Trump‘s presidential library is not the same as France giving the Statue of Liberty to the American people. But that is what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tried to claim on Sunday.

“Even if Qatar isn’t asking for anything in return now for the jet, I mean, that’s a bill that could come due,” Jake Tapper, host of CNN’s State of the Union said to Bessent. “Nobody… just gives a $400 million jet just to be nice.”

“Well, I don’t know, Jake,” Bessent said. “The French gave us the Statue of Liberty. The British gave us the Resolute Desk. I’m not sure they asked for anything in advance.”

Trump’s bozos are just too dense to get it!

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/bessent-trump-qatar-statue-of-liberty-1235342112

Defense News: What’s wrong with Trump accepting a 747 from Qatar? Everything

As secretary of the Air Force, I was frustrated by Boeing’s failure to deliver the new Air Force One aircraft on time.

I can understand that President Trump would like a new aircraft, painted as he desires and available for use during his term in office. I cannot understand his willingness to accept the “gift” of a luxuriously appointed, used Boeing 747 from Qatar.

It is wrong to accept this gift from any perspective.

Read the rest of the article for a lengthy discussion of “any perspective”.

https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2025/05/16/whats-wrong-with-trump-accepting-a-747-from-qatar-everything