Qatar Offers $400 Million Plane... Trump Sparks Controversy by Comparing It to Golf "Gimme Putt."

U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy after accepting a plane worth around $400 million (approximately 5,663 billion KRW) gifted by the Qatari royal family (a Boeing 747-8 aircraft) and comparing it to a "gimme putt" in golf, which is commonly referred to as an "OK ball" in South Korea.

On the 12th, Trump defended his acceptance of the gift from Qatar during a press meeting at the White House, stating: "I got a free plane. I could have proposed paying $1 billion or $400 million to Qatar, but I chose to say, 'Thank you very much.'"

He added: "You pick up the ball, move on to the next hole, and say thank you when you get a gimme putt," adding that "many foolish people say, 'No, I want to hit it,' but they miss and upset their partners." He continued: "Remember this," and emphasized that when you receive a gimme putt, you pick up the ball, move on to the next hole, and say thank you.

Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that refusing such gifts would be "stupid" and dismissed Democratic lawmakers and civic groups who criticized accepting expensive gifts from foreign governments as violating public ethics as "the world's biggest losers." Trump claimed: "The Department of Defense gets a new plane for free, replacing the 'Air Force One' (presidential aircraft) that has been in use for 40 years, and this deal is open and transparent." He also mentioned plans to use the Qatari-gifted plane as a presidential aircraft and later donate it to the "Trump Library" he intends to establish after leaving office.

However, Democrats and civic groups argue that if the plane ends up with the Trump Library after his presidency, it would essentially belong to Trump personally, condemning it as a dangerous precedent that legitimizes conflicts of interest and personal gain. The New York Times commented: "By forcibly comparing the acceptance of a high-end foreign government aircraft to a 'gimme putt,' one can easily see how Trump views other ethical issues surrounding him, including the plane."

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831990116229120/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's viewpoint.