Donald Trump compares Qatar plane gift to Statue of Liberty amid $400 million jet row: Live updates

MAGA allies have turned on the president over his decision to accpet a 747 from Qatar.

But Trump said he would be a 'fool' not to accept it on behalf of America.

On Truth Social he reposted a message from a supporter which said:

To everyone complaining about this gift: How about the Resolute Desk aka Hayes Desk that was gifted to President Hayes from Queen Victoria in 1880?

What about the Statue of Liberty which was gifted from France in 1886?

The plane is NOT President Trumps!!! It is a gift to AMERICA and the DOD 🇺🇸 Get over it!

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

First lady Melania Trump is skipping President Donald Trump's trip to the Middle East - but the president brought an entourage of female staffers with him to Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh Tuesday.

Following the lead Melania set when she visited the kingdom alongside her husband in 2017, the women of Trumpworld opted not to cover their heads - wearing western-style pantsuits instead.

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles left her silver bob uncovered, and wore a baby blue oversized blazer over a conservative black top, black slacks and pointed black block heels, as she appeared alongside the president at a series of meetings at the Royal Court on Tuesday.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also went with pastels - wearing a shiny mint green pantsuit as she bustled alongside President Donald Trump, Cabinet secretaries, top aides and the White House press at the Royal Court.

Longtime Trump aide Margo Martin, who serves as a special assistant and communications adviser to the president, shared a picture of her look on her Instagram page.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent in Doha, Qatar

Red Qatari-emblazoned Cybertrucks led President Donald Trump's motorcade into Doha, shortly after he arrived Wednesday afternoon in Qatar - the second stop of his three-country Middle East trip.

The Tesla vehicles come after the company's CEO Elon Musk - who is winding down his efforts at DOGE - showed up in Riyadh Tuesday and attended a series of events on Trump's schedule with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

Musk flew independently of Air Force One to Saudi Arabia.

He appeared not to travel with Trump to Doha Wednesday.

The president's official delegation included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, among others.

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

President Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin wants him to attend Thursday's meeting in Turkey about peace negotiations with Ukraine and fretted the Russian president wouldn't attend if he didn't.

Trump indicated he was open to making the trip.

'I don’t know if he’s showing up. I know he would like me to be there. And that’s a possibility,' the president told reporters on Air Force One as he traveled from Saudi Arabia to Doha.

'I’ve been thinking about that. Now tomorrow, we’re all booked out, you understand that. We’re going to UAE tomorrow. So we have a very full situation. Now that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do it to save a lot of lives and come back. But yeah, I’ve been thinking about it. I don’t know that he would be there if I’m not there.'

Trump is on a four day trip to the Middle East. He is scheduled to be in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

Urkainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated he'll travel to Turkey - but only if Putin does.

Trump has been pushing both leaders to sign a peace deal.

Asked how Putin was handling things, Trump said: 'I don’t know. I’ll let you know in a week. I’ll let you know in a few days.'

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent in Doha, Qatar

President Donald Trump met with Syria's new leader, President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Wednesday morning during his trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is 'exploring normalization' with the war-torn nation.

President Recep Erdogan of Turkey joined by phone while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud joined Trump and al-Sharaa in person.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One en route to Qatar that the meeting with al-Sharaa went 'great,' calling the 42-year-old a 'young, attractive guy.'

'Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter,' the president offered.

al-Sharaa formerly fought for al-Qaeda in Iraq.

'He's got a real shot of holding it together. I spoke with President Erdogan, who is very friendly with him. He feels he's got a shot of doing a good job. It's a torn up country,' Trump said.

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

President Donald Trump was filled with praise for Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thanic, the leader of Qatar, when the two met.

He enjoyed the architecture of the Amiri Diwan, which is filled with white marble.

'The job you’ve done is second to none. You look at this, it’s so beautiful. As a construction person, I’m seeing perfect marble. This is what they call perfecto,' the president said.

Trump also remarked about the camels he saw upon arrival.

'We appreciate those camels. I haven’t seen camels like that in a long time. And it was some greeting, we appreciate it very much.'

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

FIFA President Gianni Infantino hitched a ride on Air Force One from Saudi Arabia to Qatar, joining President Donald Trump for his Middle East Trip.

The soccer chief and commander-in-chief have developed a friendship as the U.S. prepares to host the 2026 World Cup. The last championship was in Qatar.

Infantino will preside over a ceremony in which Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thanic, the leader of Qatar, will hand World Cup hosting duties to Trump.

The emir mentioned the US hosting the World Cup when he welcomed Trump to his country. 'Football. As you guys call it, soccer,' he said and noted they had hosted it previously.

'There wasn’t one incident here,' he said of their event in 2022.

'You did a great job,' Trump responded.

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

President Donald Trump went after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, accusing the Jewish senator of being a 'Palestine.'

His criticism came after Schumer announced he is putting blanket hold on all Justice Department political nominees as he seeks answers to Trump's decision to accept a luxury plane from the Qatari Royal fmily.

'Schumer, you know, he's become a Palestinian. There's something wrong with him. You know, I've known him a long time and there's something wrong. He's lost his confidence, totally. There's just something wrong. I don't know what it is with Schumer,' the president told reporters on Air Force One on the way to Doha.

President Donald Trump arrived in Qatar Wednesday amid a controversy about its gift of a new Air Force One and amid hopes he can broker an Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

The president is in Doha on day two of his four-day trip to the Middle East, where his focus has been on strengthening U.S. relations with the Arab world.

He'll enjoy a state visit with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thanic, who is expected to announce billions in investments in the United States.

But Trump's trip also raised questions on where America's relationship with Israel stands and turned the spotlight on Qatar's wealthy royal family and its gift of a 'flying palace' to the president.