Two senior Trump administration officials stepped forward on Sunday to justify Donald Trump’s acceptance of a $400 million private jet from the Qatari royal family.
Steve Witkoff and Scott Bessent appeared in separate interviews on ABC’s This Week and CNN’s State of the Union, defending what many— including Republican lawmakers— have described as a questionable gesture with the appearance of bribery.
Witkoff, the administration’s envoy to the Middle East, argued that the Boeing 747-8 jet—intended to replace the aging Air Force One—should be viewed as a win for the U.S., describing it as a routine, government-to-government Department of Defense exchange. “They chose to donate something in recognition of all we’ve done for them,” he said. Witkoff previously had business dealings with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attempted to downplay concerns by comparing the jet to historical gifts like the Statue of Liberty and the Resolute Desk. “I’m not sure they were expecting anything in return,” he said. However, CNN’s Jake Tapper noted the key difference: the plane is designated for use by the president and could end up at Trump’s presidential library.
The gift has stirred skepticism even within Trump’s own party. Senator Rand Paul cautioned that accepting the jet could distract from the administration’s broader Middle East trade initiatives. Former Vice President Mike Pence also urged Trump to reconsider. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro was blunt on his podcast, calling the move “skeezy.”
Amid growing criticism, Trump dismissed the controversy during a Fox News interview, calling it a “radical left story” and insisting the jet would serve the U.S. Air Force before eventually being decommissioned—much like Reagan-era aircraft. “I made a good deal,” he said.
