Ex-Spox Slams Trump for $400M Qatar Jet: ‘Blood Money’
The president had said he would be “stupid” not to accept the luxury plane.
One of Donald Trump‘s former spokespeople tore into him for accepting a $400 million plane from Qatar.
“You’re taking Qatari blood money,” Alyssa Farah Griffin, who served as White House director of strategic communications in 2020, told CNN.
Trump had said he’d be “stupid” not to accept the luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar’s royal family, but the president’s willingness to accept the gift has raised alarm across the political spectrum over what Qatar may expect in return.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump spokesperson, was left aghast by the president's willingness to accept a $400 million jet from Qatar.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Lavish enough to have been dubbed a “flying palace,” sources have told ABC the Boeing 747-8 is expected to be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation in the months ahead of his departure from office.
Boeing reveals the 747-8 jumbo passenger jet to thousands of employees and guests.
Anthony Bolante/REUTERS
Griffin reminded viewers in the Saturday interview of the stringent rules for White House officials concerning gifts, which prohibit staff from accepting anything worth more than $20, let alone $400 million, in their capacity as government employees.
Taking inspiration from Boeing's "Dreamliner," the 787-8 features LED lighting and sculpted ceilings.
Boeing
“We were also told, ‘Don’t even take a pen from a foreign diplomat, a head of state, because it likely has surveillance technology on it,’” she said, warning it would likely cost White House security many millions of dollars simply to ensure the jet and its furnishings do not contain any concealed espionage devices.
The Trump family is heavily invested in the Middle East, including development projects in Qatar.
Map Illustration by Eric Faison/The Daily Beast/Getty Images
Griffin isn’t alone in having expressed horror at the debacle. Former Vice President Mike Pence warned: “We’ve got to remember who Qatar is” given the Gulf state’s historic support for Al-Qaeda.
Echoing Pence’s concerns, Griffin pointed out on Saturday that Qatar has also helped “shield” Hamas' finances prior to and during the War in Gaza.
“Way to step on your own message, Donald Trump,” she added.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Unlock a year of full access to The Looker and The Daily Beast for $35.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Looker and The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Sign in
Login dialog