Donald Trump compares Qatar plane gift to Statue of Liberty amid $400 million jet row: Live updates

Published on: May 14, 2025

By NIKKI SCHWAB, CHIEF CAMPAIGN CORRESPONDENT IN DOHA, QATAR

Published: 13:11 BST, 14 May 2025 | Updated: 13:20 BST, 14 May 2025

President Donald Trump has issued a new defense of his decision to accept a $400 million jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One.

He reposted a social media message comparing the gift to the Statue of Liberty, which was given to the U.S. by France

Trump finished the first leg of his Middle East tour in Saudi Arabia and has arrived in Doha, Qatar.

He told Gulf leaders on Wednesday he urgently wants to ‘make a deal’ with Iran to wind down its nuclear program.

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Trump defends plane gift of $400 million ‘flying palace’ from Qatar

MAGA allies have turned on the president over his decision to accpet a 747 from Qatar.

But Trump said he would be a ‘fool’ not to accept it on behalf of America.

On Truth Social he reposted a message from a supporter which said:

To everyone complaining about this gift: How about the Resolute Desk aka Hayes Desk that was gifted to President Hayes from Queen Victoria in 1880?

What about the Statue of Liberty which was gifted from France in 1886?

The plane is NOT President Trumps!!! It is a gift to AMERICA and the DOD 🇺🇸 Get over it!

FILE PHOTO: A sailboat passes by the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

Trump’s MAGA allies turn on him over Qatar plane gift

Trump slams Schumer, calls him a ‘Palestine’

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

President Donald Trump went after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, accusing the Jewish senator of being a ‘Palestine.’

His criticism came after Schumer announced he is putting blanket hold on all Justice Department political nominees as he seeks answers to Trump’s decision to accept a luxury plane from the Qatari Royal fmily.

‘Schumer, you know, he’s become a Palestinian. There’s something wrong with him. You know, I’ve known him a long time and there’s something wrong. He’s lost his confidence, totally. There’s just something wrong. I don’t know what it is with Schumer,’ the president told reporters on Air Force One on the way to Doha.

US President Donald Trump listens to questions as he speaks to members of the press on Air Force One while flying over Saudi Arabia on his way to Qatar on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump touches down in Qatar

Trump touches down in Doha

President Donald Trump arrived in Qatar Wednesday amid a controversy about its gift of a new Air Force One and amid hopes he can broker an Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

The president is in Doha on day two of his four-day trip to the Middle East, where his focus has been on strengthening U.S. relations with the Arab world.

He’ll enjoy a state visit with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thanic, who is expected to announce billions in investments in the United States.

But Trump’s trip also raised questions on where America’s relationship with Israel stands and turned the spotlight on Qatar’s wealthy royal family and its gift of a ‘flying palace’ to the president.