South African president jokes about airplane gift for Trump

The gift of a new plane to serve as Air Force One offered a brief moment of levity as President Donald Trump and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa clashed in the Oval Office over political killings and refugees.

News broke during the meeting that the Air Force accepted the gift of a Boeing 747 from the government of Qatar. Democrats and some Republicans have criticized Trump for the gift and he lashed out at a reporter who asked about it.

Ramaphosa had been discussing the need for greater trade with the United States. But Trump countered each plea that Ramaphosa made with a rebuttal through video and newspaper clippings about the deaths of White South African farmers. He said these killings had spurred thousands of people to flee the country.

“I’m sorry we don’t have a plane to give you,” Ramaphosa said with a smile.

“I wish you did. I’d take it,” Trump said to laughter. “If your country offered the United States Air Force a plane, I would take it.”

Trump called questions about the plane “fake news,” saying he wouldn’t receive the plane personally, but it would serve as a temporary replacement as a presidential aircraft while Boeing builds new planes.