Month: May 2025

The Trump administration is preparing to receive a high-end Boeing 747-8 aircraft from Qatar’s royal family, which is expected to serve as Air Force One for the remainder of President Trump’s term.  ABC News first reported news the gift, which comes as Mr. Trump heads to Qatar as part of his first international trip of his second term.

The aircraft will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his presidential library after Trump’s time in office ends, according to multiple sources. The arrangement will adhere to both U.S. and international regulations, including government ethics standards. President Trump plans to address the agreement during his upcoming visit to Qatar this week, however, the delivery of the jet will take some time.

Discussions around Qatar gifting this particular plane have been ongoing for an extended period. When the formal proposal was recently made, the president “enthusiastically accepted” the offer. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt assured reporters that any gifts from foreign governments are processed lawfully: “All gifts from foreign governments are handled in strict compliance with applicable laws. The Trump Administration remains fully committed to transparency.”

Qatar has offered to donate an aircraft to the Department of Defense. However, they clarified that the gift will not be officially presented or accepted during the president’s visit this week. (per NBC News.) During his time in Qatar, Trump is expected to deliver a speech and meet with American service members stationed at Al Udeid Air Base, according to two U.S. officials. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is slated to accompany the president during his visit to the base. His itinerary includes stops in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

A spokesperson for the Qatari government, however, clarified that “reports suggesting that Qatar is gifting a jet to the United States during President Trump’s upcoming visit are incorrect.” Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché in Washington, added: “Discussions regarding a potential aircraft transfer for temporary use as Air Force One are ongoing between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense. The matter is still under legal review, and no final decision has been made.”

The reported deal has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who argue that accepting a gift of such value would require congressional approval. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the move, describing it as a blatant example of foreign influence: “Nothing screams ‘America First’ like flying Air Force One courtesy of Qatar. This isn’t just bribery — it’s deluxe foreign influence, complete with extra legroom.”

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders went further, calling the arrangement “corrupt” and in direct violation of the Constitution:  “Let me be clear: Donald Trump has no legal or ethical right to accept a $400 million flying palace from Qatar’s royal family. This is not only cartoonishly corrupt but flatly unconstitutional.”

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American and Chinese officials have reached a breakthrough in trade discussions after two days of high-level negotiations, according to senior government representatives. The talks are being held in Geneva, Switzerland; however, no concrete details of the agreement were released.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement from the White House that significant headway had been achieved in the effort to resolve the ongoing trade conflict initiated by President Trump: “First and foremost, I want to extend my gratitude to our Swiss hosts. The Swiss government graciously provided us with an excellent venue, which undoubtedly contributed to the level of productivity we’ve witnessed.  We’ll be sharing more specifics tomorrow, but I can confirm the discussions have been fruitful.”

Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, echoed Bessent’s sentiments, stating that after just two “very productive days,” both parties managed to reach an agreement. “These negotiations were built on extensive groundwork,” Greer explained. “We’re optimistic that this deal will be a crucial step in addressing what we view as a national emergency.”

After the first day of meetings on Saturday, President Trump shared his thoughts on his Truth Social platform, saying, “Had an excellent meeting today with Chinese officials in Switzerland. Covered many topics, reached several agreements. Negotiations were friendly but focused on real progress—a complete reset in the relationship. For the benefit of both nations, we aim to open up China further to American businesses. Tremendous progress made!!!”

The trade war between the U.S. and China reignited earlier this year when Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, citing concerns over national security and the fentanyl crisis impacting America. By April, the U.S. had raised tariffs on Chinese imports to a staggering 145%. In retaliation, Beijing slapped 125% tariffs on American exports.

China’s state-run news agency, Xinhua, published an opinion piece on Sunday, acknowledging the importance of the high-level talks while reaffirming China’s commitment to protecting its economic interests: “In this situation, it is meaningful for both sides to engage in direct discussions, which are essential to bridge differences and prevent further conflict,” wrote Fan Yu for Xinhua.“However, the success of these talks depends on genuine effort and sincerity from both parties, especially whether the U.S. can approach negotiations with rationality and practicality. China maintains that any meaningful dialogue must be grounded in mutual respect, fairness, and shared benefits.”

In another editorial published Saturday, edited by Zhao Yang, Xinhua criticized the Trump administration for initiating the trade dispute “without adequate planning or thoughtful consideration.” The piece argued that a complete economic decoupling between the U.S. and China would ultimately harm the American economy, referencing analysis from Oxford Economics.

China’s Ministry of Commerce has been working to deepen trade ties with Switzerland—an effort mirrored by U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent. Switzerland’s prominent role in global finance and trade positions it as a key player in helping both nations diversify economic partnerships and lessen the fallout from U.S.-China tensions. Bessent shared on social media: “We had very productive discussions yesterday alongside Ambassador Greer with Swiss President Keller Sutter and Vice President Parmelin. I’m pleased that we’ve agreed to fast-track trade negotiations, and we anticipate that a formal Swiss proposal will be presented to Ambassador Greer by next week.”

Editorial credit: Maxim Elramsisy / Shutterstock.com