Conservative radio persona Erick Erickson issued a scathing rebuke of President Donald Trump on Monday over his choice to simply accept a $400 million Boeing 747-8 plane from the Qatari royal household—a transfer that has drawn rising bipartisan scrutiny.
Erickson, a longtime voice in right-wing media, rejected the concept the present was technically a bribe or outright corruption however argued that the symbolic and ethical implications of accepting such a present from Qatar had been deeply troubling.
“This is my problem with taking the plane from Qatar. It’s not that it’s a bribe. It’s not that it’s corrupt,” Erickson stated on his program.
“My problem with taking this plane from Qatar is I do not think the president of the United States of America should sit and fly on a plane purchased with the same money used to murder American citizens.”
Erickson referred to as the energy-rich Gulf state “a rogue regime that is not our friend” whereas lamenting the truth that “many people in Washington, DC, treat Qatar the way they treated China 20 years ago, as if it’s some innocent country that’s just involved in things.”
The Qatari authorities has drawn criticism for its monetary and diplomatic ties to Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist group by the US and the European Union.
Whereas Qatar has denied instantly funding terror operations, it has lengthy supplied sanctuary for Hamas’s political management and funneled billions into the Gaza Strip.
The nation additionally maintains pleasant ties with Iran, additional elevating considerations amongst critics of the Trump administration’s international entanglements.
Erickson additionally took goal at Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi, highlighting her earlier work as a paid lobbyist for the Qatari authorities earlier than becoming a member of Trump’s cupboard.
“Pam Bondi… was a lobbyist for Qatar. She made $119,000 a month,” he stated.
“I don’t think that we should agree with Pam Bondi saying, ‘Oh, yes, Qatar can gift this to the Department of Defense on condition it goes to the Trump Presidential Library.’ I think she’s opening Donald Trump up to legal trouble later.”
Qatar, he argued, spends huge sums to “improve its image while paying terrorists to murder American citizens.”
“I do not think the president’s Air Force One substitute should be a plane bought with the same money used to kill American citizens,” Erickson stated.
Republican lawmakers have additionally voiced considerations. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) criticized the optics of the present, telling Punchbowl Information: “I don’t think it looks good or smells good.”
“Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump’s Administration is committed to full transparency,” Karoline Leavitt, the White Home press secretary, stated in a press release.
A White Home official informed The Submit that whereas it’s true that Qatar provided to donate a airplane to the Pentagon, the present gained’t be “presented nor accepted this week” whereas the president is in Qatar. He’s scheduled to go to the nation on Wednesday.
Whereas Qatar’s ties to Hamas have sparked controversy, its function as host of the group’s political management was initially inspired by each the US and Israel.
The thought was that Qatar may function a impartial middleman, serving to dealer ceasefires and facilitating oblique negotiations, particularly throughout hostage crises or flare-ups in Gaza.
Through the years, Qatar has equipped billions in humanitarian help to the Gaza Strip — typically with quiet coordination from Israel. Critics argue this help has not directly propped up Hamas’s authority within the area, whilst its acknowledged goal has been to alleviate poverty and restore infrastructure.
On the identical time, Qatar stays one in all America’s most vital navy companions within the area.
The Al Udeid Air Base, situated close to Doha, homes the biggest US navy presence within the Center East and serves as a key operations hub for US Central Command.
