Free Plane, Free Rein: When Statecraft Meets Self-Interest

"I could be a stupid person and say, 'Oh no, we don't want a free plane.' We give free things out—we'll take one, too. And it helps us out. I would never be one to turn down that kind of offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane.'" President Donald Trump announced he’ll use a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar as his new Air Force One and plans to give it to his personal foundation when he leaves office. Critics say it’s the latest sign he’s blurring the lines between governing and self-dealing. Shortly after that remark in Riyadh, Trump lifted U.S. sanctions on Syria, now that Bashar al-Assad is gone. He urged Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords and called on Iran to sit down with the U.S. over its nuclear program. This marks Trump’s first major overseas trip of his second term, aimed at locking in trade deals after his tariff blitz. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.