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Why Trump's pledge to defend Qatar is so extraordinary [View all]
This executive order is not binding on future administrations. If trump wanted to really protect Qatar, he should had negotiated a treaty but such a treaty would have no chance of passage.
Qatar gave trump that $450 million plane which the US is having to pay $1 billion to upgrade. In addition there are the other bribes being paid by Qatar to trump and Jared.
There are a number of issues listed in the article with this deal but I will focus on the conflicts of interest
https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/01/politics/qatar-pledge-trump-analysis
Trump’s personal ties to Qatar
The situation also resurfaces Trump and his family’s own controversial ties to Qatar – a nation that’s clearly sought to curry favor with the president.
The acceptance of the Qatari jet is particularly dicey given Trump has said the luxury plane will be transferred to his presidential library after his term ends, rather than remaining in use by the US government.
And in April, the Trump Organization announced plans for a Trump-branded golf resort in Qatar that was supported by a firm backed by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund.
The New York Times reported two weeks ago that Trump’s controversial sale of valuable artificial intelligence chips to the United Arab Emirates coincided in highly suspicious ways with a lucrative cryptocurrency deal with the Emiratis.
Trump and his personal businesses have clearly blurred the lines between government business and personal interests in the Middle East. The White House denied conflicts of interest to the Times, saying a key negotiator, Steve Witkoff, was “working with ethics officials and counsel to ensure he is in full compliance.”
The Qatar executive order also raises all kinds of questions – some of which are about connections between possible personal benefits and official government actions.
Qatar has given Trump some extraordinary gifts. Now he appears to have given it one right back.
The situation also resurfaces Trump and his family’s own controversial ties to Qatar – a nation that’s clearly sought to curry favor with the president.
The acceptance of the Qatari jet is particularly dicey given Trump has said the luxury plane will be transferred to his presidential library after his term ends, rather than remaining in use by the US government.
And in April, the Trump Organization announced plans for a Trump-branded golf resort in Qatar that was supported by a firm backed by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund.
The New York Times reported two weeks ago that Trump’s controversial sale of valuable artificial intelligence chips to the United Arab Emirates coincided in highly suspicious ways with a lucrative cryptocurrency deal with the Emiratis.
Trump and his personal businesses have clearly blurred the lines between government business and personal interests in the Middle East. The White House denied conflicts of interest to the Times, saying a key negotiator, Steve Witkoff, was “working with ethics officials and counsel to ensure he is in full compliance.”
The Qatar executive order also raises all kinds of questions – some of which are about connections between possible personal benefits and official government actions.
Qatar has given Trump some extraordinary gifts. Now he appears to have given it one right back.
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