“Qatar Has a Long History of Playing Both Sides” Mike Pence Slams Trump’s Air Force One Deal in Explosive Interview
In a pointed and exclusive interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, former Vice President Mike Pence issued a sharp warning to Donald Trump over his controversial plan to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar to serve as the next Air Force One, calling the move a “bad idea” fraught with serious constitutional and national security risks.
“First we’ve got to remember who Qatar is. We’ve got a military base there. I have members of our immediate family that have deployed to the region,” Pence told host Kristen Welker in the Friday interview, conducted at his home in Indiana.
Related: Trump’s $400 Million Jet Gift from Qatar Sparks Outrage: Even His Own Party Says It’s Corrupt!
“But Qatar has a long history of playing both sides,” he continued. “They support Hamas. They supported Al Qaeda. Qatar has actually financed pro-Hamas protests on American campuses across the United States.”
The plane, reportedly a gift from the Qatari royal family, is intended to be used by Trump for presidential travel and later housed at his presidential library. The proposal has already drawn fire from both Democrats and Republicans, with critics raising red flags about foreign influence, intelligence vulnerabilities, and constitutional violations.
Pence did not hold back, saying that accepting such a gift is “inconsistent with our security, with our intelligence needs. And my hope is the president reconsiders it.”
He further emphasized the risk of foreign surveillance and potential intelligence gathering if the jet, originally under foreign ownership, were to be repurposed for U.S. presidential use.
Related: Trump Defends Taking Royal Jet as Democrats Call It a $400 Million Bribe
“Others have observed, there are profound issues — the potential for intelligence gathering, the need to ensure the president of the United States is safe and secure as he travels around the world,” Pence noted.
Beyond security concerns, Pence highlighted a constitutional issue that could land Trump in hot water — the Emoluments Clause, which prohibits U.S. officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval.
“There are very real constitutional issues,” he said. “I think it’s just a bad idea, and my hope is the president will think better of it.”
As an alternative, Pence proposed that if the Qatari government genuinely wanted to contribute something of value, it should reinvest the estimated $400 million cost of the aircraft into “infrastructure on their military base,” where U.S. troops are stationed.
The remarks come amid an increasingly complex relationship between Pence and Trump. While Pence has consistently praised the accomplishments of the Trump-Pence administration, their partnership publicly fractured after Pence certified Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory — a move that drew Trump’s fierce criticism.
Pence briefly challenged Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination but suspended his campaign in 2023 after failing to gain traction with Republican voters.
As Trump continues to push forward with his plans for a second term, Pence’s warnings may resonate with GOP lawmakers and national security experts concerned about foreign entanglements and executive overreach. Whether Trump heeds the advice remains to be seen — but Pence has made it clear where he stands.
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