Hillary Clinton mocked for accusing Trump of pay-for-play over Qatar's jet gift: 'Maybe sit this one out'

WASHINGTON, DC: Hillary Clinton took a swing at Donald Trump this week — and it seems to have majorly backfired.

The former secretary of state courted controversy after commenting on reports that Qatar is planning to hand the Trump administration a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 jet free of charge. 

“No one gives someone a $400 million dollar jet for free without expecting anything in return. Be serious,” Clinton posted on X (formerly Twitter). 

But critics from across the aisle quickly reminded her she might not be the best person to call out foreign money deals.

Clinton Foundation's foreign donations controversy

Political strategist Peter Schweizer’s 2015 book, 'Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich', dug into the Clinton Foundation’s alleged pay-for-play past during Hillary Clinton’s time at the State Department.

The book was filled with eyebrow-raising claims about foreign donations — many of them from the same countries Hillary’s now criticizing Trump over. 

Major outlets like The New York Times and New York Magazine followed up with reporting of their own, citing findings that the Clintons bagged at least $3.4 million for 18 speeches funded by Keystone Pipeline banks and that the Clinton Foundation allegedly "strong-armed" a charity watchdog group.

In fact, Reuters confirmed that Qatar gave the foundation $1 million while Hillary was secretary of state.

Qatar's jumbo jet gift to the Donald Trump administration

According to ABC News, “sources familiar with the proposed arrangement” say the Trump administration is currently in talks “to accept” a luxe Boeing 747-8 from Qatar to use as a temporary Air Force One. 

It’s apparently being gifted “free of charge,” and will “initially be transferred to the United States Air Force.”

The aircraft has been dubbed “a flying palace" and would be modified by the military to meet presidential transport standards. Before Trump leaves office in 2029, the ownership will reportedly transfer to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.

Per ABC’s sources, the handoff would happen no later than January 1, 2029, with the US Air Force covering “any costs relating to its transfer.”

Trump himself confirmed the Qatar talks in a Truth Social post, calling the Boeing handover a “GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE” and framing the entire move as “very public and transparent." He noted that Democrats were “bothered” by the arrangement.

Internet slams Hillary Clinton as she takes a dig at Donald Trump over jet gift

Hillary Clinton’s attempt to play watchdog backfired almost immediately. Critics took to social media to point out that the Clinton Foundation had accepted millions of dollars in donations from countries like Qatar.

Rep Paul Gosar (R-AZ) posted on X, “Cry me a river @HillaryClinton. Tell that to the mega-donors, including Qatar, who gave hundreds of millions of $$ to the Clinton Foundation. Didn’t seem to bother you then.”

Then came Jerry Dunleavy from Just The News, who posted a screenshot of that now-infamous Reuters story confirming the Clinton Foundation accepted a $1 million donation from Qatar — again, while Clinton was still serving as secretary of state. “What did Qatar want from you?” he asked.

Several others on social media piled on.

One said, "Be serious. Nobody gives millions of dollars to the Clinton Foundation without expecting anything in return. Be serious," and another wrote, "Reminder, the Clinton Foundation received more than $40 million from four Arab states including Qatar."

"I remember when you helped sell off our country’s uranium reserves. Maybe sit this one out," someone else snarked.

"The Clinton Foundation is the Gold Platinum & Diamond standard for buying and selling influence. Just Shoosh," another remarked.

Qatari prime minister dismisses concerns over jumbo jet gift

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani brushed off concerns about ethics and security.

Speaking to Fox News’ Bret Baier on Wednesday, May 14, Al Thani called out “really unfair accusations” that the plane was Qatar’s way of buying influence in the Trump administration.

“We are proud of this partnership and this relationship,” he said. “I don’t see any basis for this accusation, unless there are some people who are just trying to select who should be a friend of the US and who should not," Al Thani added.

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