Trump lashes out at ‘ABC fake News’ over question – Business News
President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at ABC News reporter Rachel Scott after she questioned whether or not a $400 million luxurious jet donated by Qatar’s royal household to the Pentagon might be perceived as a personal present to him.
The tense exchange with Scott, whose community lately paid $16 million to Trump as half of a defamation settlement, occurred during a signing ceremony at the White House, the place the president praised the plane donation and dismissed any suggestion that it was inappropriate.
“I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer,” Trump mentioned.
President Trump on Monday lashed out at an ABC News reporter over a question relating to his new Qatari aircraft. AP
“I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’ But I thought it was a great gesture.”
The exchange with Scott rapidly turned confrontational when she requested, “What do you say to people who view that luxury jet as a personal gift to you?”
Trump fired back: “You’re ABC fake news, right? Only ABC — well, a few of you would … Let me tell you, you should be embarrassed asking that question. They’re giving us a free jet. I could say, ‘No, no no, don’t give us. I want to pay you a billion, or 400 million, or whatever it is.’ Or I could say thank you very much.”
Scott tried to comply with up by pointing out that some could view the scenario by a business lens.
“Respectfully, sir, as a businessman, some people may look at this and say, have you ever been given a gift worth millions of dollars and then not –” she started, earlier than Trump cut her off again.
“It’s not a gift to me, it’s a gift to the Department of Defense,” Trump mentioned. “And you should know better, because you’ve been embarrassed enough, and so has your network. Your network is a disaster. ABC is a disaster.”
ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott requested Trump about his plan to simply accept a $400 million jet from Qatar. ABC
The Pentagon is set to take possession of the plane, described as a lavish Boeing business jet, which Trump mentioned comes with no strings connected. YouTube/Spotti Flight
Despite the administration’s insistence that the jet is a gesture of goodwill to the US authorities, ethics watchdogs have raised issues about transparency and international affect, notably given Qatar’s efforts to bolster its profile in Washington over the previous decade.
The Pentagon is set to take possession of the plane, described as a lavish Boeing business jet, which Trump mentioned comes with no strings connected.
Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747. Two exist, and the president flies on each, that are more than 30 years previous.
The aircraft has been described as a luxurious jet with a number of facilities. YouTube/Spotti Flight
Boeing has the contract to supply up to date variations, however supply has been delayed whereas the company has misplaced billions of {dollars} on the project.
Trump intends to transform the Qatari plane into a aircraft he can fly on as president, with the Air Force planning so as to add secure communications and different categorised parts to it.
But it’s going to nonetheless have more restricted capabilities than the present planes that have been constructed to function Air Force One, in addition to two different plane at present underneath construction, a former US official informed AP.
Trump has denied that the aircraft is a personal present. He mentioned that it was a present to the Pentagon. YouTube/Spotti Flight
ABC News was the primary to report the donation, which has sparked questions on its goal and the optics of such a high-value present coming from a international monarchy with sturdy diplomatic ties to the Trump White House.
In December, ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos agreed to pay $16 million to resolve a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump in opposition to the Disney-owned community.
The lawsuit stemmed from a March 2024 broadcast the place Stephanopoulos incorrectly acknowledged that Trump had been discovered accountable for rape within the civil case introduced by author E. Jean Carroll.
In actuality, the jury discovered Trump accountable for sexual abuse and defamation, however not rape.
