President fed up with ‘Fake and Defamatory reporting’
By Joe Kovacs
PALM BEACH, Florida – President Donald Trump is threatening fresh legal action against ABC News for what he calls “misleading” and “fake” news coverage of Qatar’s gift of a luxury 747 jet to America.
In a late-night post on Truth Social Saturday, Trump wondered: “Why doesn’t Chairman Bob Iger do something about ABC Fake News, especially since I just won $16,000,000 based on the Fake and Defamatory reporting of Liddle’ George Slopadopolus. He was given warnings, but just couldn’t be restrained by ‘management.'”
“Now I see they are at it again, and I again give these SleazeBags fair warning!
“The wonderful country of Qatar, after agreeing to invest more than 1.4 Trillion Dollars in the United States of America, deserves much better than Misleading (Fake!) News.”Trump stressed the gift of the plane to be used as Air Force One is not to him personally, but to the U.S. Defense Department.
“Everyone, including their lawyers, has been told that ABC must not say that Qatar is giving ME a FREE Boeing 747 Airplane, because they are not,” he explained.
“Instead, and as Fake News ABC fully knows and understands, this highly respected country is donating the plane to the United States Air Force/ Defense Department, AND NOT TO ME.
“By so doing, they are saving our country, and the American Taxpayer, hundreds of millions of dollars. ABC Fake News is one of the WORST.”
“What do you say to people who view that luxury jet as a personal gift to you?” ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott asked Trump during a signing ceremony for an executive order designed to slash prices for prescription drugs. “Why not leave it behind?”
Trump instantly responded with an attack on Scott and her network, saying: “You’re ABC Fake News right? Because 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 $1 billion or $400 million or whatever it is or I could say thank you very much.”
Qatar Amiri Flight A7-HBJ BBJ Boeing 747-8 A Very Rare Truly Stunning VIP Jet Seen Departing Manchester Airport MAN To London Stansted Airport STN On 20/09/2022.
This VIP 747 Is exclusively For The Royal Family And Government Officials And Also Operate Special Worldwide Charter. pic.twitter.com/3y2u68nbG3
— 23L AVIATION (@23LAviation) November 20, 2022
He then discussed an anecdote concerning pro golfer Sam Snead.
“He had a motto, when they give you a putt, you say, thank you very much. You pick up your ball and you walk to the next hole,” Trump recounted.
“A lot of people are stupid. They say, no, no, I insist on putting it. And then they put it, they miss it, and their partner gets angry at them. You know what? Remember that Sam Snead, when they give you a putt, you pick it up and you walk to the next hole and you say, thank you very much.”
Scott continued to press the matter, but was cut off by Trump as she asked: “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 …”
“It’s not a gift to me,” Trump replied. “It’s a gift to the Department of Defense 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: “What do you say to people who view that luxury jet as a personal gift to you?”@POTUS: “You’re ABC Fake News right?… You should be embarrassed asking that question. They’re giving us a free jet. I could say no… I want to pay you $1B… Or I could say thank you.” pic.twitter.com/Q22i73Asle
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 12, 2025
Regarding the offer of the aircraft, Trump said: “I think it’s a great gesture from Qatar. Appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.”
“I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane. But it was, I thought it was a great gesture.”
President Trump on reports Qatar will gift him a 400 million dollar 747 to use as AF1:
“I could be a stupid person and say no, we don’t want a free expensive airplane. It was a great gesture and a gesture because of the fact that we have helped and continue to, we will continue… pic.twitter.com/aIZwMUpL8k
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 12, 2025
“I think it was a gesture because of the fact that we help, have helped, and continue to, we will continue to all of those countries, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and others,” he continued.
Democrats like Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) claim a Qatar Boeing 747-8 jet for Air Force One violates the Foreign Emoluments Clause. This ignores the deal’s structure.
The jet is offered to the U.S. Air Force, not Trump personally, for official use.The White House and DOJ say this… pic.twitter.com/0KSrNETf2u
— Media Lies (@MediasLies) May 12, 2025
