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Free ride: Allies, even Laura Loomer, turn on President Trump for accepting luxury jet from Qatar

Free ride: Allies, even Laura Loomer, turn on President Trump for accepting luxury jet from Qatar

Hell hath now frozen over.  President Donald Trump’s decision to accept a $400-million plane from Qatar, as a gift, has prompted stinging criticism from Laura Loomer. She’s the hard-right activist who specializes in getting the president to fire top officials and withdraw nominees, or at least claims credit for doing so. If you’ve lost Loomer, you’re losing the argument. TRUMP DEFENDS QATAR JUMBO JET OFFER AS TROUBLED BOEING FAILS TO DELIVER NEW AIR FORCE ONE FLEET Not according to Donald Trump. He told reporters yesterday that this was a “great gesture” by Qatar, done because “we keep them safe,” referring to Qatar and the UAE, which he’ll be visiting after Saudi Arabia. He said the maintenance costs on the 40-year-old Air Force One planes are astronomical, and noted that the Reagan Library has such a plane. The decommissioned Qatar aircraft will go to a future Trump Library. But the Gipper’s plane didn’t come from Qatar. “How are we supposed to ever see the US under the Trump admin designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization,” Loomer wrote, “if the US is now going to accept a $400 million jet from Qatar to fly the US President and his staff around on?” Calling the episode a “stain” on his tenure, she added: “I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him. But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million ‘gift’ from jihadists in suits. The Qataris fund the same Iranian proxies in Hamas and Hezbollah who have murdered US Service Members. The same proxies that have worked with the Mexican cartels to get jihadists across our border.” The media are in an uproar as well, and the story has only grown bigger since it was first reported by ABC News. HOUSE DEMOCRAT CALLS FOR ‘IMMEDIATE’ ETHICS PROBE OF QATARI PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP Of course, the luxury 747 will have to be upgraded with secure communications and military equipment. That would take at least till the end of the year.  But one Pentagon official told the New York Times “we’re talking years, not months.” Trump consulted Elon Musk, the DOGE leader and head of SpaceX, who told him that the plane could be delivered in a year. Two loyalists – Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Counsel David Warrington – approved the arrangement, according to the Times. Trump toured the 747 in February when it was parked at the Palm Beach airport. There was a Plan B that got derailed. The Qataris offered to donate the plane immediately to the future Trump Library. But administration lawyers said that would violate the Constitution’s emoluments clause – which as Beltway insiders know, bars any federal official from accepting personal gifts from a foreign nation without the approval of Congress.  The president’s “flood the zone” approach has ensured that this isn’t the only story out there. He announced that after two days of talks, the U.S. and China reached a 90-day agreement that would reduce tariffs on Beijing from 145% to 30%, and Chinese tariffs would be cut to 10%. It’s clear that Trump blinked. Having tanked the markets (which soared yesterday), he was under enormous pressure to undo the damage. So now we’re back to square one, roughly where we might have been without igniting a global crisis. TRUMP SAYS ‘TOTAL RESET NEGOTIATED’ WITH CHINA DURING TARIFF TALKS IN GENEVA But perhaps Xi Jinping blinked as well. His government was feeling the impact of the sky-high tariffs as well. The Chinese, with considerably less enthusiasm, said the “mistake” would only lead to further negotiations. Trump also was able to announce a cease-fire in the escalating war between India and Pakistan, thanks to some weekend diplomacy by Marco Rubio and JD Vance. Trump also was able to announce that Hamas was freeing the last living American hostage being held by the terrorist group. Trump also sided with Vladimir Putin, who wants to meet for peace talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who first wants a 30-day cease-fire, so that Moscow doesn’t continue the killing and gain more territory while stalling on any pause in the fighting. Trump also was able to unveil a plan that he says will lower the cost of prescription drugs by 30 to 80%. SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE’S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY’S HOTTEST STORIES But circling back to the 747, the president chided ABC’s Rachel Scott when she tried to question him about the plane: “You’re ABC fake news, right? 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 a billion, or 400 million, or whatever it is’ Or I could say, ‘thank you very much.’” Scott tried again: “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, it’s a gift to the Department of Defense,” Trump said. “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.” Whether the president is right or wrong, it seems like these are legitimate questions. And the media are always a great foil for him. So I don’t see him backing down. 

Pentagon stopping gender transition treatment for transgender troops

Pentagon stopping gender transition treatment for transgender troops

The Pentagon is ending gender transition treatment for transgender troops, according to a new memo, as officials move to enforce President Donald Trump’s plan to boot transgender troops out of the U.S. military. Under the instructions, the Defense Department is prohibiting any new hormone treatments or surgical procedures for transgender troops, according to the memo, Reuters reported. “I am directing you to take the necessary steps to immediately implement this guidance,” Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Stephen Ferrara wrote in the memo. HEGSETH ORDERS DEADLINE FOR TRANS SERVICE MEMBERS TO LEAVE MILITARY: ‘OUT AT THE DOD’ One transgender service member described the move as “the latest slap in the face” to honorably serving troops. “If there was any doubt left, there is not anymore: transgender service members are no longer entitled to the same standard of medical care as their peers,” the service member told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of being targeted. Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed his opposition to gender transition treatment for transgender troops when he re-posted an article on X that said the Pentagon would resume treatments for transgender troops and their dependents. BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR MILITARY RECRUITS WITH MEDICAL ISSUES TO LAND DEFENSE JOBS “If this is true – we will find any way possible to stop it,” Hegseth wrote. “Taxpayers should NEVER pay for this lunacy.” Since being confirmed as Pentagon chief, Hegseth has embraced efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives, particularly those applying to transgender troops. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court gave the green light for the Trump administration to implement its ban on transgender troops in the military, allowing the Defense Department to discharge thousands of current transgender troops and deny new recruits as legal challenges against the move continue to play out in court. A memo released last week revealed that Hegseth issued instructions to begin kicking out transgender troops who do not voluntarily leave by June 6. Trump had signed an executive order in January shortly after returning to the White House that reversed a Biden administration policy that had allowed transgender troops to serve. Officials have said there are 4,240 U.S. active-duty and National Guard transgender troops, although some transgender rights advocates say the number may be even higher. Reuters contributed to this report.

Trump targets massive investments in first Middle East trip

Trump targets massive investments in first Middle East trip

Former President Donald Trump is embarking this week on a high-stakes tour of the Persian Gulf region, targeting business deals and strategic partnerships with three oil-rich nations: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The trip marks Trump’s first major foreign visit of his new term and comes as nuclear negotiations with Iran drag on and as war continues between Israel and the Palestinian terror organization, Hamas, in the Gaza Strip. While business is the official focus, the backdrop is anything but calm. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the mission as part of Trump’s broader vision that “extremism is defeated [through] commerce and cultural exchanges.” Under President Joe Biden, U.S. relations with Gulf states cooled, particularly after Biden vowed to make Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a “pariah” over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But Trump has reversed course, embracing a more transactional approach that has warmed ties with regional leaders. “The overall goal here is that the United States is reminding our Middle East allies that we’re here to stay,” said Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum. “We’re here to promote our joint interests rather than the abandonment policies under the previous administration.” Saudi Arabia has already pledged $600 billion in U.S. investments, spanning weapons purchases, technology transfers, artificial intelligence and the stock market. Trump has said he believes the Saudis may ultimately commit up to $1 trillion. While Saudi leaders aim to diversify their economy away from oil, those massive investments still depend on oil revenues, which could be threatened by Trump’s push to lower global energy prices. TRUMP STRAINS RELATIONSHIP WITH NETANYAHU AS MIDDLE EAST POLICY INCREASINGLY ISOLATES ISRAEL In addition to economic deals, Trump and bin Salman are expected to discuss a possible civil nuclear program and expanded defense cooperation. Such agreements were once linked to a potential Abraham Accords-style normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. But Riyadh has made clear it won’t recognize Israel unless Palestinian statehood is on the table, something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has staunchly opposed. No stop in Israel is scheduled during Trump’s tour. “Israeli normalization in any Saudi-U.S. project is an outdated option,” said Saudi geopolitical analyst Salman Al-Ansari. “The second Trump administration is doubling down on its strategically autonomous Middle East policy.” In a possible goodwill gesture ahead of the trip, Hamas released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, a move Trump called “monumental” in the push to end the Gaza conflict. And as the UAE seeks to boost its ties with the U.S. and become a global AI leader by 2030, it’ll need American microchips. The UAE has gone even further than the Saudis, promising $1.4 trillion in U.S. investments over the next decade focused on AI, semiconductors, manufacturing and energy.  Biden had tightened curbs on AI exports to keep such technologies out of the hands of adversaries at a time when China drew closer to Middle Eastern states, especially the UAE.  On Thursday, the U.S. announced Trump would rescind the Biden-era restrictions.  Trump’s whirlwind Gulf visit begins Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he’ll headline the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum alongside Saudi ministers, White House crypto czar David Sacks and other business leaders. On Wednesday, he’ll attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting before flying to Qatar for talks with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and a visit to the U.S. military’s Al Udeid Air Base. Thursday’s final stop is Abu Dhabi, where Trump will meet UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 4TH ROUND OF US-IRAN TALKS ENDS AS TRUMP SET TO EMBARK ON HISTORIC MIDDLE EAST TOUR The Qataris are pulling out all the stops to impress: They’ve offered Trump the use of a royal Boeing 747-8, typically reserved for the Qatari royal family, to serve as Air Force One. Since being named a major non-NATO ally by Biden in 2022, Qatar has deepened its ties with the U.S., hosting American troops and mediating sensitive negotiations, including ongoing back-channel talks between Israel and Gaza. Doha also maintains close contact with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who ousted Bashar al-Assad and is now seeking sanctions relief and normalized ties with the West. “Regional leaders will have an opportunity to address the situation directly with the president,” said regional expert Jonathan Bass. “Trump is the only man that can lead the way.” While a fourth round of Iran nuclear talks in Oman over the weekend failed to produce a breakthrough, Tehran is expected to keep a close eye on Trump’s Gulf meetings. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made unannounced visits to both Saudi Arabia and Qatar ahead of Trump’s arrival, likely in hopes of passing messages through those governments to Washington. But all three of Trump’s host nations, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, remain wary of Iran’s ambitions. “The region needs to openly address the problem of the IRGC,” said Bass, referring to Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. “The IRGC is trying to undermine every single country in the region.”

Trump endorses Jack Ciattarelli for New Jersey governor: ‘A winner’

Trump endorses Jack Ciattarelli for New Jersey governor: ‘A winner’

President Donald Trump endorsed his former critic Jack Ciattarelli for governor of New Jersey on Monday. “Jack Ciattarelli is a terrific America First Candidate running to be the next Governor of a State that I love, NEW JERSEY!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. Trump said Ciattarelli has gone “ALL IN” and that, if elected, he would work closely with the Trump administration to grow the economy, cut taxes and regulations, help secure the border, stop migrant crime, protect veterans, advance American energy and more. “Also, Jack is the Republican Candidate who is best positioned to STAND TALL against the Radical Left Democrats and, most importantly, ensure a Big Victory in this Very Important Gubernatorial Election, an Election that is being closely watched by the entire World because, we are ending WOKE, and all of the other NONSENSE that goes along with it, AND NOBODY WANTS TO SEE IT COME BACK!,” Trump continued in his endorsement. AGITATORS CLASH WITH POLICE, ARRETS MADE AS CLERGY MEMBERS DESCEND ON NEWARK ICE FACILITY Ciattarelli responded to the endorsement on X, saying he was “truly humbled and honored to receive President Trump’s very strong endorsement today. It’s time to unite our party, win big in November, and make New Jersey affordable and safe again.” Ciattarelli finished his post by saying “When I am Governor, we will.” Trump and Ciattarelli appear to be turning a new leaf. Ciattarelli was once a harsh Trump critic, going so far as to call Trump a “charlatan” and saying he was “not fit to be President of the United States” back in 2015. NEWARK MAYOR ARRESTED AS DEM CONGRESS MEMBERS STORM NEW JERSEY ICE PRISON TO CONDUCT ‘OVERSIGHT VISIT’ Ciattarelli seems to have changed his stance on Trump since those comments and was even seen at Trump’s Wildwood, New Jersey, rally in 2020 shaking hands and taking photos with event-goers.  Ciattarelli appeared to gain popularity, and in 2021 came within three points of defeating Democratic incumbent Governor Phil Murphy.  Now, he will face Bill Spadea, a conservative radio host, and State Senator Jon Bramnick in the June 10 Republican primary. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Spadea reacted to Trump’s endorsement of Ciattarelli. “Donald Trump’s endorsement comes after a years long effort by Jack to lie about his own record,” Spadea said in part. “My resolve to fight for the people of New Jersey has never been greater. I intend to continue fighting for the America First agenda because that is what’s best for the state and our nation.” The New Jersey Democratic Governors Association (DGA) also blasted the endorsement. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “This endorsement just confirms what we already knew: Jack Ciattarelli would put Donald Trump before New Jersey,” DGA Communications Director Sam Newton said in a statement. ” As Governor, Ciattarelli would bring Trump’s agenda of higher costs and chaos to Trenton – instead of fighting to protect New Jersey’s freedoms and working to make life more affordable.”