During a meeting at the White House, a seemingly light-hearted exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa masked a deeper controversy.
At one point in the conversation, Trump claimed there was “genocide” occurring against white farmers in South Africa—a statement Ramaphosa firmly rejected as baseless. In response to the tense moment, Ramaphosa smiled and joked, “Sorry, I don’t have a plane to gift you.” Trump replied with a grin, “I could’ve taken one if I wanted to. If your country gave the U.S. Air Force a plane, I would’ve taken it.”
This humorous moment touches on a more serious issue: Trump is under fire for allegedly accepting a luxurious Boeing 747 jet as a gift from the Qatari royal family. While the Trump administration confirmed receiving the aircraft, four credible sources have claimed the reports are false.
Pentagon spokesperson Cinn Parnell stated that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth officially received the jet and that necessary security measures have been taken for Trump’s use. He added that the gift was accepted in accordance with U.S. federal regulations.
The incident has sparked intense political debate in the U.S., with not only Democrats but also several Republicans criticizing the acceptance of the gift. Experts have warned that the move could represent a conflict of interest and may impact ongoing U.S.-Qatar arms deals.
When a journalist questioned Trump about the issue, he reacted angrily, saying, “You’re an idiot. What kind of journalist are you? You don’t deserve to be one—you’re not smart enough.”
