Maggie Haberman

Sure. So, first of all, thanks for having me, Rachel. It's great to be here with you.

Sure. So, first of all, thanks for having me, Rachel. It's great to be here with you.

What's going on here is that President Trump plans and has been very clear that he plans to accept a plane that he indicated is going to be donated by the Qataris for him to fly around on as a new plane. Air Force One. And this is a luxury plane worth about $400 million, decked out on the interiors, used by the royal family in Qatar. And it has caused an enormous amount of outrage.

What's going on here is that President Trump plans and has been very clear that he plans to accept a plane that he indicated is going to be donated by the Qataris for him to fly around on as a new plane. Air Force One. And this is a luxury plane worth about $400 million, decked out on the interiors, used by the royal family in Qatar. And it has caused an enormous amount of outrage.

Explain that outrage a little bit. What's the reaction been? So Democrats have been very vocal that they think this is essentially, you know, some form of a payoff to the president.

Explain that outrage a little bit. What's the reaction been? So Democrats have been very vocal that they think this is essentially, you know, some form of a payoff to the president.

It's wildly corrupt. Because, as the editorial page of the New York Post said, it's hard to imagine that officials in Qatar think that they are doing this just to be nice. And it's hard to know what exactly they might want in return.

It's wildly corrupt. Because, as the editorial page of the New York Post said, it's hard to imagine that officials in Qatar think that they are doing this just to be nice. And it's hard to know what exactly they might want in return.

Most Republican elected officials have been pretty muted. There have been a few who have commented.

Most Republican elected officials have been pretty muted. There have been a few who have commented.

But really, there has been a pretty strong reaction from some conservative Republican MAGA influencers, whatever bucket you want to put them in, who are normally pretty aligned with President Trump and who have said that this is not exactly draining the swamp, as he said he would.

But really, there has been a pretty strong reaction from some conservative Republican MAGA influencers, whatever bucket you want to put them in, who are normally pretty aligned with President Trump and who have said that this is not exactly draining the swamp, as he said he would.

Basically, the people that are really concerned about this are worried that it's like a flying bribe or something. Yeah, exactly. A flying bribe is precisely how I think they would put it, even though I know that the White House would say that that is not what it is. Right. And President Trump got very angry at the suggestion that there could be an appearance of impropriety about this.

Basically, the people that are really concerned about this are worried that it's like a flying bribe or something. Yeah, exactly. A flying bribe is precisely how I think they would put it, even though I know that the White House would say that that is not what it is. Right. And President Trump got very angry at the suggestion that there could be an appearance of impropriety about this.

He also said, Rachel, that he won't continue flying on it when he leaves office. Right.

He also said, Rachel, that he won't continue flying on it when he leaves office. Right.

A straight up gift to an elected official by a foreign government is generally not allowed and needs to be approved by Congress. The way in which this might work... Sounds like it would be as a donation to the Defense Department, which is not totally unheard of, although certainly not under this kind of circumstance.

A straight up gift to an elected official by a foreign government is generally not allowed and needs to be approved by Congress. The way in which this might work... Sounds like it would be as a donation to the Defense Department, which is not totally unheard of, although certainly not under this kind of circumstance.

And then it would be donated in some way or turned over in some way to President Trump's presidential library right before he leaves office. But it is going to raise all kinds of questions.

And then it would be donated in some way or turned over in some way to President Trump's presidential library right before he leaves office. But it is going to raise all kinds of questions.