Jake Tapper tried to spin a diplomatic gift into a scandal. But Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wasn’t having it.
The CNN host questioned whether a $400 million jet gifted to the United States by Qatar might come with strings attached:
“Even if Qatar isn't asking for anything in return now for the jet,” Tapper said,
“I mean, that's a bill that could come due. Nobody in the Middle East gives things—just gives a $400 million jet just to be nice.”
Bessent responded with a calm but devastating reality check:
“Well, I don't know Jake,” he said.
“The French gave us the Statue of Liberty. The British gave us the Resolute Desk. I'm not sure they asked for anything in advance.”
And just like that, the narrative fell apart.
Bessent then pointed to the bigger picture—a deal that dwarfs the media’s talking point and has nothing to do with Donald Trump:
“The more important airplane deal was, there's $100 billion of orders from Qatar Airlines to Boeing,” he explained.
“Kelly Ortberg, the CEO of Boeing, was there with us in the Middle East. This is the biggest order in the company’s history.”
While Tapper focused on a ceremonial gift to the U.S., Bessent reminded viewers of the real headline: a historic deal that strengthens American manufacturing and supports thousands of jobs.
Share this post