Trump lashes out at ‘ABC fake News’ over question about Qatari plane: ‘You should be embarrassed’
President Donald Trump got into a heated exchange with ABC News reporter Rachel Scott after she asked whether a $400 million luxury jet donated by Qatar to the U.S. military might be seen as a personal gift to him.
This happened during a White House event where Trump praised the donation and dismissed any concerns. When asked about the plane, Trump made it clear he thought it was a generous offer and didn’t see anything wrong with accepting it. He joked that turning down such an expensive gift would be foolish, saying, “I could be a stupid person and say no.”
The situation got tense when Scott pressed him, asking what he would say to people who believe the jet was a personal gift. Trump responded sharply, accusing ABC of being “fake news” and criticizing Scott for the question. He said she should be embarrassed and insisted the plane was not for him personally, but for the Department of Defense. He also attacked ABC News, calling the network “a disaster.”
Scott tried to continue her line of questioning, suggesting that as a businessman, Trump must understand how such a valuable gift might look to the public. Trump interrupted again, firmly repeating that the jet was meant for the U.S. military and not for his own use.
The aircraft in question is a highly luxurious Boeing 747-8 business jet. The Pentagon is set to receive it, and Trump claimed there were no conditions attached to the donation. Still, some ethics experts are concerned. They’ve warned that such a massive gift from a foreign royal family could raise questions about influence and transparency—especially since Qatar has been working for years to strengthen its ties in Washington.
Trump has said he plans to use the plane during his presidency, and the Air Force will modify it with secure communication systems and other classified upgrades. However, according to a former U.S. official, even after those updates, it won’t match the full capabilities of the current Air Force One jets or the new ones under construction.
The story drew even more attention because it came shortly after ABC News agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle a defamation lawsuit. That lawsuit was over a false statement made during a 2024 broadcast, where anchor George Stephanopoulos said Trump had been found liable for rape. In fact, the jury found Trump responsible for sexual abuse and defamation, but not rape.
Despite Trump’s denials, the optics of the jet donation have raised eyebrows due to the close relationship between his administration and Qatar’s leadership.
