Former President Donald Trump is once again contemplating legal action against ABC News, following a controversial report that has sparked widespread satire and jokes across late-night comedy shows and social media platforms. The report centers around an alleged $400 million "free plane" souvenir that Trump supposedly received during his recent visit to Qatar.
On Saturday night, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his anger at Disney CEO Bob Iger, who oversees ABC News. “I give these SleazeBags fair warning!” he wrote, demanding action against what he referred to as "ABC Fake News." Trump further claimed, “Why doesn’t Chairman Bob Iger do something about ABC Fake News, especially since I just won $16,000,000 based on the Fake and Defamatory reporting of Liddle’ George Slopadopolus?” This statement alludes to a defamation lawsuit Trump previously filed against ABC that was settled in December for $15 million.
In his tirade, Trump specifically addressed the portrayal of the supposed “free plane” gift from Qatar, expressing discontent over the notion that it was a personal favor to him. “Everyone, including their lawyers, has been told that ABC must not say that Qatar is giving ME a FREE Boeing 747 Airplane, because they are not,” he asserted. Trump clarified that the aircraft is being donated to the United States Air Force and the Defense Department, rather than to him personally.
Following his trip to the Middle East, where he received warm hospitality from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, Trump has been active on social media, posting videos that promote these nations, despite their controversial human rights records. “The wonderful country of Qatar, after agreeing to invest more than 1.4 Trillion Dollars in the United States of America, deserves much better than Misleading (Fake!) News,” he continued to express his gratitude to Qatar.
The purported “free plane” has become fodder for late-night comedy, with various hosts taking jabs at Trump’s statements. Comedian Bill Maher humorously dubbed it “Allah Force One,” while Stephen Colbert suggested that Trump was asking if Saudi Arabia could “top the bribe” that Qatar offered. The comedic interpretations have added to the public discourse surrounding the topic.
In a recent press interaction, Trump reacted defensively to a question from an ABC reporter about the plane, using golfing terminology to suggest that the reporter should feel thankful for the “free putt.” He remarked, “I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’ But I thought it was a great gesture.”
This ongoing situation highlights not only Trump’s contentious relationship with the media but also the broader implications of how news is reported and perceived in the digital age.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that ABC settled with Trump in the defamation suit against George Stephanopoulos.
