Qatar Gave Trump a $400 Million “Palace in the Sky” Jumbo Jet and a major Branding deal. What Did They Expect in Return?
To begin with, Trump wants the plane because, when his presidency ends, the aircraft will be handed over to his presidential library foundation. That means he'd get a private, $400 million plane, with a billion dollar refit by the US air force, courtesy of a foreign government.
Then, there's a further sweetener. The Trump Brand just negotiated a licensing fee for a Qatar golf and residential development. The deal could potentially be worth tens of millions to possibly a hundred million, depending on how lucrative villa sales and club/golf membership revenues are, including how many villas sell, and whether there are hotel components, etc. In Qatar, that's pretty much what we Westerners would call a slam-dunk.
(Rolling Stone) “We have never had a relationship with Qatar as strong as it is now. We are going to protect you”-Donald Trump. Qatar, one might note, is the main negotiating avenue between Hamas and Israel at the moment.
And, in return? A week ago, Israel conducted an airstrike in the Leqtaifiya district of Doha, Qatar.
The Trump administration was unaware of the strike, as Israel hadn't shared news of the attack with ‘good-friend Donald.’ Caught flat-footed would be too kind a word for it.
The target was a residential compound said to house Hamas political leaders / negotiators. They were reportedly meeting to discuss a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal. Casualties included several killed, and at least five Hamas members plus a Qatari security official wounded. Reports claim some of the intended targets survived the strike.
Hamas claimed its senior leadership survived but, one would think, the Qatar ‘s Emir was less that enthusiastic about his return on investment.
Who knows? I wasn't there.
What is known, is that countries in the Middle East are not pleased at the moment with Israel's genocide in Gaza (or its American support), and the surprise Qatari attack cannot have improved that situation.
Another blow, no doubt, to The Art of the Deal.