WASHINGTON —
During a heated exchange at the White House, President Donald J. Trump angrily dismissed a reporter’s question about a luxury jet donated by Qatar to the United States, calling the inquiry a distraction from more urgent matters.
The clash unfolded during a joint appearance with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday. As the leaders discussed issues ranging from international trade to land reform in South Africa, an NBC reporter asked about a recent Pentagon announcement involving a Qatari Boeing 747 intended for future presidential use.
Trump bristled at the question.
“What are you talking about? You need to get out of here,” he snapped. “They are giving the United States Air Force a jet, and it’s a great thing. We’re talking about serious issues, and this NBC is trying to change the subject.”
He went further, turning his anger toward NBC’s leadership.
“You are a terrible reporter. Number one, you don’t have what it takes to be a reporter. You are not smart enough,” Trump said. “Brian Roberts and the people who run that place should be investigated. They’re a disgrace.”
Trump has long had a contentious relationship with parts of the US media, but his remarks Wednesday were unusually personal and sharp.
The President defended the aircraft, valued at an estimated $400 million, describing it as a gift to the US government rather than to himself.
“It is not to me! It’s a gift to the United States Air Force,” he wrote earlier on Truth Social. “Qatar, a country we’ve helped defend for many years, is giving us this aircraft. It will be used temporarily as Air Force One while we wait for new planes that are badly delayed.”
The aircraft, according to the Pentagon, will undergo major modifications to meet national security and mission standards. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth accepted the plane on behalf of the Defence Department, and officials have said all procedures comply with US laws.
“The Department will ensure the aircraft is properly equipped for presidential missions,” a Defence Department spokesperson told CNN.
Still, the move has raised questions about the optics and implications of accepting such a high-value gift from a foreign government. Experts say it’s not uncommon for allied nations to donate or loan military or government assets, but transparency and proper channels are crucial.
At the press conference, Trump also turned the conversation to South Africa, criticising what he described as racist violence against white farmers — a highly controversial claim that has drawn global scrutiny and pushback from the South African government.
President Ramaphosa appeared calm throughout the exchange but did not comment publicly on the jet or Trump’s remarks to the press.
While the Qatari jet remains a focal point, the White House insists the meeting’s priority was strengthening US-South Africa ties. Yet the President’s explosive reaction dominated headlines and once again put the spotlight on his ongoing battles with the media.
