Washington, D.C. [US], May 22 (ANI): In a heated exchange at the White House on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at an NBC reporter who questioned him about the Pentagon’s recent decision to accept a Qatari Boeing 747 as a future Air Force One. Trump labeled the reporter “terrible” and “not smart enough” to do his job and accused the media outlet of attempting to deflect from more important global issues.
The outburst occurred during a press availability with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. When the NBC reporter raised a question regarding the modified Qatari aircraft, Trump abruptly cut him off, launching into a scathing tirade. “What are you talking about?… You need to get out of here… What does this have to do with the Qatari jet?” Trump said, visibly agitated. “You are a terrible reporter. Number one, you don’t have what it takes to be a reporter. You are not smart enough.”
Trump further accused NBC and its parent company Comcast, led by CEO Brian Roberts, of running a “disgraceful” news operation, stating, “You ought to go back to your studio at NBC… they ought to be investigated.”
Defending the Pentagon’s acceptance of the aircraft, Trump emphasized that the plane was not gifted to him personally, but to the United States government. “They are giving the United States Air Force a jet, and it’s a great thing,” he stated. “They also gave $5.1 trillion worth of investments in addition to the jet.”
Earlier, Trump had addressed the controversy on Truth Social, clarifying, “The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME! It is a gift from a nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years. It will be used by our Government as a temporary Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeings, which are very late on delivery, arrive.”
CNN, citing a Defense Department spokesperson, reported that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had accepted the Qatari Boeing 747. The aircraft will undergo extensive modifications for security and operational readiness before being temporarily deployed as a presidential transport. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed that the transfer complies with all U.S. laws and regulations.
According to The Hill, the plane’s estimated value is approximately USD 400 million. The gift from Qatar’s royal family comes amid long-standing defense and investment ties between the two nations.
While Trump maintained that the acceptance of the aircraft was a diplomatic gesture and a practical solution amid delays in the delivery of new Air Force One aircraft, critics and media outlets have raised questions about transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
The confrontation underscores ongoing tensions between Trump and the media, particularly as the administration fields scrutiny over foreign gifts and defense-related protocols. (ANI)
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