AP Special Report Trump's plan to accept free plane from Qatar raises ethical and security worries CHRIS MEGERIAN, ZEKE MILLER and BERNARD CONDON Associated Press May 13, 2025 May 13, 2025 Updated Nov 15, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON — For President Donald Trump, accepting a free Air Force One replacement from Qatar is a no-brainer.kAmQx H@F=5 ?6G6C 36 @?6 E@ EFC? 5@H? E92E <:?5 @7 2? @776C[Q E96 #6AF3=:42? E@=5 C6A@CE6CD @? |@?52J] Qx 4@F=5 36 2 DEFA:5 A6CD@? 2?5 D2J[ V}@[ H6 5@?VE H2?E 2 7C66[ G6CJ 6IA6?D:G6 2:CA=2?6]VQk^AmkAmrC:E:4D @7 E96 A=2? H@CCJ E92E E96 >@G6 E9C62E6?D E@ EFC? 2 8=@32= DJ>3@= @7 p>6C:42? A@H6C :?E@ 2? 2:C3@C?6 4@==64E:@? @7 6E9:42=[ =682=[ D64FC:EJ 2?5 4@F?E6C:?E6==:86?46 4@?46C?D]k^AmkAmQ%9:D :D F?AC64656?E65[Q D2:5 y6DD:42 {6G:?D@?[ 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= =2H 6IA6CE 2E {@J@=2 {2H $49@@=] Q(6 ;FDE 92G6?VE E6DE65 E96D6 3@F?52C:6D 367@C6]Qk^Am People are also reading… Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts McDowell County high schoolers show off art, music, more at Spring Art Show Los Compadres owners bringing street food, festive vibe to new restaurant in downtown Newton Marion to replace bridge to lift station with $1.4 million grant from state Marion man charged with murder Wednesday in 2024 death of 3-month-old daughter The story behind new McDowell County ice cream business The Scream Man found dead along Interstate 40 in Burke County; Medical examiner notified McDowell County Schools superintendent: Planning for a new school Property tax exemptions are available for qualifying property owners in McDowell County Lenoir woman accused of scratching Telsa Cybertruck using board with nails; see video here Railroad conference in Morganton focuses on passenger trains, rebuilding from Helene McDowell County leaders hear updates, concerns about 2027 property value reappraisal Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school Siena almost pulls off all-time March Madness upset against Duke kAm%CF>A EC:65 E@ E2>A 5@H? D@>6 @7 E96 @AA@D:E:@? 3J D2J:?8 96 H@F=5?VE 7=J 2C@F?5 :? E96 8:7E65 q@6:?8 fcf H96? 9:D E6C> 6?5D] x?DE625[ 96 D2:5[ E96 Sc__ >:==:@? A=2?6 H@F=5 36 5@?2E65 E@ 2 7FEFC6 AC6D:56?E:2= =:3C2CJ[ D:>:=2C E@ 9@H E96 q@6:?8 f_f FD65 3J !C6D:56?E #@?2=5 #6282? H2D 564@>>:DD:@?65 2?5 AFE @? 5:DA=2J 2D 2 >FD6F> A:646]k^AmkAmQxE H@F=5 8@ 5:C64E=J E@ E96 =:3C2CJ 27E6C x =62G6 @77:46[Q %CF>A D2:5] Qx H@F=5?VE 36 FD:?8 :E]Qk^AmkAm%92E 5:5 =:EE=6 E@ BF6== E96 4@?EC@G6CDJ @G6C E96 A=2?6] s6>@4C2ED 2C6 F?:E65 :? @FEC286[ 2?5 6G6? D@>6 @7 E96 #6AF3=:42? AC6D:56?EVD 2==:6D 2C6 H@CC:65]k^Am kAm{2FC2 {@@>6C[ 2? @FEDA@<6? 4@?DA:C24J E96@C:DE H9@ 92D EC:65 E@ AFC86 5:D=@J2= @77:4:2=D 7C@> E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ HC@E6 @? D@4:2= >65:2 E92E D96 H@F=5 QE2<6 2 3F==6E 7@C %CF>AQ 3FE D2:5 D96VD QD@ 5:D2AA@:?E65]Qk^Am kAm%CF>A H:== =:<6=J 7246 A6CD:DE6?E BF6DE:@?D 23@FE E96 A=2?6 :? E96 4@>:?8 52JD 2D 96 EC2G6=D E@ E96 |:55=6 t2DE[ :?4=F5:?8 2 DE@A :? "2E2C]k^Amk9am(9J 5@6D %CF>A H2?E E96 "2E2C: A=2?6nk^9amkAm%96 EH@ A=2?6D 4FCC6?E=J FD65 2D p:C u@C46 ~?6 92G6 366? 7=J:?8 7@C 2=>@DE 7@FC 564256D[ 2?5 %CF>A :D 6286C E@ C6A=246 E96>] sFC:?8 9:D 7:CDE E6C>[ 96 5:DA=2J65 2 >@56= @7 2 ?6H ;F>3@ ;6E :? E96 ~G2= ~77:46[ 4@>A=6E6 H:E9 2 C6G:D65 A2:?E D496>6 E92E 649@65 E96 C65[ H9:E6 2?5 52C< 3=F6 56D:8? @7 9:D A6CD@?2= A=2?6]k^Am kAmq@6:?8 92D 366? C6EC@7:EE:?8 fcfD E92E H6C6 @C:8:?2==J 3F:=E 7@C 2 ?@H\567F?4E #FDD:2? 2:C=:?6C] %96 AC@8C2> 72465 2=>@DE 2 564256 @7 56=2JD — H:E9 A6C92AD >@C6 @? E96 H2J — 7C@> 2 D6C:6D @7 :DDF6D[ :?4=F5:?8 2 4C:E:42= DF34@?EC24E@CVD 32?<CFAE4J 2?5 E96 5:77:4F=EJ @7 7:?5:?8 2?5 C6E2:?:?8 BF2=:7:65 DE277 H9@ 4@F=5 36 2H2C565 9:89\=6G6= D64FC:EJ 4=62C2?46D]k^Am kAm%96 ?6H A=2?6D 2C6?VE 5F6 E@ 36 7:?:D965 F?E:= ?62C E96 6?5 @7 %CF>AVD E6C>[ 2?5 96VD @FE @7 A2E:6?46] w6 56D4C:365 E96 D:EF2E:@? 2D Q2 E@E2= >6DD[Q 2?5 96 4@>A=2:?D E92E p:C u@C46 ~?6 :D?VE 2D ?:46 2D E96 A=2?6D 7=@H? 3J D@>6 pC23 =6256CD]k^Am kAm%CF>A D2:5 "2E2C[ H9:49 9@DED E96 =2C86DE &]$] >:=:E2CJ 32D6 :? E96 |:55=6 t2DE[ @776C65 2 C6A=246>6?E A=2?6 E92E 4@F=5 36 FD65 H9:=6 E96 8@G6C?>6?E H2:ED 7@C q@6:?8 E@ 7:?:D9]k^Am Politics America's long history of 'checks and balances' is being tested by Trump like rarely before BILL BARROW Associated Press k9am(:== E96 ?6H A=2?6 36 D64FC6nk^9amkAm%96 "2E2C: A=2?6 92D 366? 56D4C:365 2D 2 QA2=246 :? E96 D<J[Q 4@>A=6E6 H:E9 =FIFC:@FD 244@>>@52E:@?D 2?5 E@A\@7\E96\=:?6 7:?:D96D]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmqFE D64FC:EJ :D E96 AC:>2CJ 4@?46C? H96? :E 4@>6D E@ AC6D:56?E:2= EC2G6=] %96 4FCC6?E p:C u@C46 ~?6 A=2?6D H6C6 3F:=E 7C@> D4C2E49 ?62C E96 6?5 @7 E96 r@=5 (2C] %96J 2C6 92C56?65 282:?DE E96 67764ED @7 2 ?F4=62C 3=2DE 2?5 :?4=F56 2 C2?86 @7 D64FC:EJ 762EFC6D[ DF49 2D 2?E:\>:DD:=6 4@F?E6C>62DFC6D 2?5 2? @?3@2C5 @A6C2E:?8 C@@>]k^Am kAm~?6 @7 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E 762EFC6D @7 p:C u@C46 ~?6 :D E96 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 42A23:=:E:6D] !C6D:56?ED 42? FD6 E96 A=2?6 2D 2 7=J:?8 $:EF2E:@? #@@>[ 2==@H:?8 E96> E@ C6DA@?5 E@ 4C:D6D 2?JH96C6 @? E96 8=@36]k^AmkAmw@H6G6C[ @? $6AE] ``[ a__`[ #6AF3=:42? !C6D:56?E v6@C86 (] qFD9 H2D 7CFDEC2E65 3J 4@>>F?:42E:@?D :DDF6D 2?5 @C56C65 FA >2DD:G6 E649?@=@8J FA8C256D @G6C DF3D6BF6?E J62CD E@ :>AC@G6 E96 AC6D:56?EVD 23:=:EJ E@ >@?:E@C 6G6?ED 2?5 4@>>F?:42E6 H:E9 A6@A=6 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5]k^Am kAm%96 ?6H 2:C4C27E F?56C 56G6=@A>6?E 3J q@6:?8 2C6 36:?8 DEC:AA65 5@H? D@ H@C<6CD 42? C6A=246 E96 DE2?52C5 H:C:?8 H:E9 D9:6=565 423=:?8] %96JVC6 2=D@ >@5:7J:?8 E96 ;6E H:E9 2? 2CC2J @7 4=2DD:7:65 D64FC:EJ >62DFC6D 2?5 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 42A23:=:E:6D]k^Am kAmq642FD6 @7 E96 9:89 DE2?52C5D 7@C 6?DFC:?8 2 AC6D:56?E 42? 4@>>F?:42E6 4=62C=J 2?5 D64FC6=J[ E96C6 2C6 762CD E92E %CF>A H@F=5 4@>AC@>:D6 D276EJ 3J CFD9:?8 E@ >@5:7J E96 "2E2C: ;6E]k^AmkAmQs:D2DD6>3=:?8 2?5 6G2=F2E:?8 E96 A=2?6 7@C 4@==64E:@?^DAJ 56G:46D H:== E2<6 J62CD[Q (:==:2> tG2?:?2[ H9@ D6CG65 2D 5:C64E@C @7 E96 }2E:@?2= r@F?E6C:?E6==:86?46 2?5 $64FC:EJ r6?E6C 5FC:?8 %CF>AVD 7:CDE E6C>[ HC@E6 @? D@4:2= >65:2]k^Am k9amxD 2?J @7 E9:D =682= @C 6E9:42=nk^9am kAmtG6? 7@C 2 AC6D:56?E H9@ 5:DC682C5D EC25:E:@?2= =:?6D 2C@F?5 AF3=:4 D6CG:46 2?5 A6CD@?2= 82:?[ %CF>AVD A=2?D E@ C646:G6 2 ;F>3@ ;6E 2D 2 8:7E C2EE=65 (2D9:?8E@?]k^AmkAm%96 r@?DE:EFE:@? AC@9:3:ED 7656C2= @77:4:2=D 7C@> 2446AE:?8 E9:?8D @7 G2=F6[ @C Q6>@=F>6?ED[Q 7C@> 7@C6:8? 8@G6C?>6?ED H:E9@FE 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 2AAC@G2=]k^AmkAmQ%9:D :D 2 4=2DD:4 6I2>A=6 @7 H92E E96 7@F?56CD H@CC:65 23@FE[Q D2:5 #:492C5 !2:?E6C[ 2 =2H AC@76DD@C 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:??6D@E2 2?5 7@C>6C (9:E6 w@FD6 6E9:4D 49:67 F?56C qFD9] QqFE x 5@?VE E9:?< E96 7@F?56CD 2?E:4:A2E65 :E H@F=5 86E E9:D 325]Qk^Am kAm%CF>A 72465 2 =682= 7:89E @G6C 6>@=F>6?ED 5FC:?8 9:D 7:CDE E6C> H96? 96 @A6?65 E96 5@@CD @7 9:D s]r] 9@E6= E@ =@33J:DED[ 3FD:?6DD 6I64FE:G6D 2?5 5:A=@>2ED] w:D =2HJ6CD 2C8F65 E92E E96 7@F?56CD 5:5?VE :?E6?5 E@ 32? EC2?D24E:@?D C6AC6D6?E:?8 2? 6I492?86 @7 2 D6CG:46 =:<6 9@E6= DA246 7@C >@?6J[ @?=J @FEC:89E 8:7ED]k^Am kAmqFE D@>6 6E9:4D =2HJ6CD 5:D28C665[ 2?5 :EVD ?@E 4=62C :7 zFH2:E[ $2F5: pC23:2[ E96 !9:=:AA:?6D 2?5 @E96C 4@F?EC:6D H6C6 A2J:?8 7F== AC:46 @C >@C6 7@C H96? E96J FD65 E96 9@E6=]k^AmkAmx? 9:D D64@?5 E6C>[ %CF>AVD 72>:=J 3FD:?6DD 92D 366? G6CJ 3FDJ @G6CD62D] x? s646>36C[ :E DECF4< 2 562= 7@C EH@ %CF>A\3C2?565 C62= 6DE2E6 AC@;64ED :? #:J259 H:E9 2 $2F5: 7:C> E92E EH@ J62CD 62C=:6C A2CE?6C65 H:E9 7@C 2 %CF>A 8@=7 C6D@CE 2?5 G:==2D :? ~>2?] p?5 :? "2E2C[ E96 %CF>A ~C82?:K2E:@? 2??@F?465 =2DE >@?E9 2?@E96C %CF>A 3C2?565 C6D@CE 2=@?8 E96 4@2DE]k^Am kAmu@FC s6>@4C2E:4 D6?2E@CD @? E96 u@C6:8? #6=2E:@?D r@>>:EE66 — qC:2? $492EK @7 w2H2::[ r9C:D r@@?D @7 s6=2H2C6[ r@CJ q@@<6C @7 }6H y6CD6J 2?5 r9C:D |FCA9J @7 r@??64E:4FE — :DDF65 2 DE2E6>6?E D2J:?8 %CF>AVD A=2? Q4C62E6D 2 4=62C 4@?7=:4E @7 :?E6C6DE[ C2:D6D D6C:@FD ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ BF6DE:@?D[ :?G:E6D 7@C6:8? :?7=F6?46[ 2?5 F?56C>:?6D AF3=:4 ECFDE :? @FC 8@G6C?>6?E]Qk^AmkAmQ}@ @?6 — ?@E 6G6? E96 AC6D:56?E — :D 23@G6 E96 =2H[Q E96J D2:5]k^Am Politics Nonprofits filling labor gaps face existential threat amid Trump’s battle against DEI CLAIRE SAVAGE and ALEXANDRA OLSON Associated Press Health Transgender issues are a strength for Trump, AP-NORC poll finds GEOFF MULVIHILL and LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press Politics Quakers march against Trump's crackdown on immigrants, carrying on long faith tradition LUIS ANDRES HENAO Associated Press 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who investigated Russia-Trump campaign ties, dies He transformed the nation's premier law enforcement agency into a terrorism-fighting force after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Student loans to go to Treasury Department as Trump continues to dismantle Education Department It's a first step toward shedding management of all student loans as Trump administration officials dismantle the federal education agency. Trump's mixed messages on Iran: 'Winding down' the war but adding more troops Trump also lifted sanctions on some Iranian oil, relieving some of the pressure that Washington traditionally used as leverage against Tehran. Senate advances Homeland Security nomination of Mullin, paving way for confirmation vote Trump's nomination of Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to be the next head of the Department of Homeland Security advanced Sunday toward confirmatio… Senate blocks amendment on transgender athletes during weekend session on voting bill Trump also wants Congress to block sex reassignment surgeries on some minors as part of the debate on the voting bill. Watch Now: Related Video Trump promises 'bigger majorities' for GOP even as midterm warning signs flash for his party - Trump’s Approval Rating Falls To Record Low Amid Iran War - Trump’s Approval Rating Falls To Record Low Amid Iran War Iranian military statement mocks US for 'strategic failure', suggests no negotiations over 15-point plan AP Iranian military statement mocks US for 'strategic failure', suggests no negotiations over 15-point plan Savannah Guthrie Set for 'Today' Show Return 'Within Weeks' Amid Desperate Hunt For Her Missing Mom Savannah Guthrie Set for 'Today' Show Return 'Within Weeks' Amid Desperate Hunt For Her Missing Mom Recommended for you
Politics America's long history of 'checks and balances' is being tested by Trump like rarely before BILL BARROW Associated Press
Politics Nonprofits filling labor gaps face existential threat amid Trump’s battle against DEI CLAIRE SAVAGE and ALEXANDRA OLSON Associated Press
Health Transgender issues are a strength for Trump, AP-NORC poll finds GEOFF MULVIHILL and LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press
Politics Quakers march against Trump's crackdown on immigrants, carrying on long faith tradition LUIS ANDRES HENAO Associated Press
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who investigated Russia-Trump campaign ties, dies He transformed the nation's premier law enforcement agency into a terrorism-fighting force after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Student loans to go to Treasury Department as Trump continues to dismantle Education Department It's a first step toward shedding management of all student loans as Trump administration officials dismantle the federal education agency.Â
Trump's mixed messages on Iran: 'Winding down' the war but adding more troops Trump also lifted sanctions on some Iranian oil, relieving some of the pressure that Washington traditionally used as leverage against Tehran.
Senate advances Homeland Security nomination of Mullin, paving way for confirmation vote Trump's nomination of Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to be the next head of the Department of Homeland Security advanced Sunday toward confirmatio…
Senate blocks amendment on transgender athletes during weekend session on voting bill Trump also wants Congress to block sex reassignment surgeries on some minors as part of the debate on the voting bill.
Iranian military statement mocks US for 'strategic failure', suggests no negotiations over 15-point plan
AP Iranian military statement mocks US for 'strategic failure', suggests no negotiations over 15-point plan
