In a recent interview with “Time” when asked about whether he would support freeing Barghouti, who has long been seen by Palestinians and some diplomats as a potential unifying leader. “I am literally being confronted with that question about 15 minutes before you called. That was the question. That was my question of the day. So I’ll be making a decision,” he said.A Summary of Ethical Complaints Against Donald Trump and his negotiator, Steve Witkoff (with the help of Grok AI)
Opponents, including Democratic lawmakers, ethics watchdogs, and former White House officials, have accused Trump of blurring the lines between his personal/family business interests and U.S. foreign policy toward Qatar. These stem primarily from 2025 developments during his second term, building on earlier concerns from his first term. Key complaints include:
– **Acceptance of a $400 million luxury jet as a “gift” from Qatar’s royal family**: Critics, including Senate Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Sen. Chris Murphy, argue this violates the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, as it constitutes a foreign gift without congressional approval. They claim it’s a quid pro quo for favorable policies, such as military protection for Qatar, and enriches Trump personally (he plans to transfer the plane to his presidential library). Richard Painter, a former ethics lawyer under George W. Bush, called it unconstitutional and unethical, especially given Qatar’s human rights record and ties to Hamas. Even some MAGA-aligned figures like Laura Loomer and Ben Shapiro criticized it as corrupt influence-peddling.
– **Trump Organization’s luxury golf resort deal with Qatar**: In April 2025, Trump’s sons announced a multibillion-dollar project (including villas and an 18-hole course) with a Qatari government-owned firm. Watchdog groups like Accountable.US accused Trump of using U.S. taxpayers to subsidize protection for his “luxury Qatar golf course” while currying favor with Qatari partners. Critics like Matt Duss (executive director of the Center for International Policy) labeled it nepotism and a conflict of interest, tying it to Trump’s Gaza ceasefire push and mediation role for Hamas (hosted in Doha).
– **Broader foreign policy favoritism tied to business gains**: Trump’s May 2025 Middle East trip (including Qatar) coincided with new Trump-branded deals worth billions in the Gulf. Opponents, including Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), argue it creates the appearance of self-dealing, with U.S. security guarantees (e.g., an October 2025 executive order treating attacks on Qatar as threats to U.S. security) benefiting Qatar in exchange for investments. This echoes 2017 concerns when Trump sided with a Saudi-led boycott of Qatar amid his own undisclosed business ties (e.g., Qatar Airways as a Trump Tower tenant).
– **Suspension of anti-corruption laws favoring Qatar**: Trump ordered a halt to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement and narrowed foreign lobbying disclosures. Critics link this to Attorney General Pam Bondi’s prior $1 million+ lobbying for Qatar, accusing the administration of enabling bribery and influence-buying.
These accusations have drawn bipartisan unease, with GOP senators like Tillis calling for transparency and some conservatives (e.g., Erick Erickson) warning of legal risks.
### Complaints Against Steve Witkoff Regarding Unethical Business Relations with Qatar
As Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East (appointed in November 2024), Witkoff—a real estate developer and Trump confidant—faces scrutiny for his family’s ongoing business pursuits overlapping with his diplomatic role in Gaza ceasefire talks. Key complaints from outlets like The New York Times, Senate Democrats, and critics like Jewish Insider include:
– **Son Alex Witkoff soliciting billions from Qatar during Gaza negotiations**: In 2025, while Steve Witkoff mediated Israel-Hamas talks (with Qatar as a key player), Alex pitched a $4 billion U.S. real estate fund to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, claiming prior pledges from Gulf states. Critics argue this creates a conflict, as Qatar could leverage investments to influence U.S. policy. The fund could yield hundreds of millions for the Witkoff Group, which Steve founded.
– **Longstanding family investments from Qatar raising influence concerns**: Qatar’s Investment Authority bailed out Witkoff’s Park Lane Hotel in 2023 for $620 million during financial distress. A 2017 Qatari lobbying memo (via lobbyist Joey Allaham) targeted Witkoff as a “confidant” to Trump for investments to build goodwill. Opponents claim this made Witkoff “indebted” to Qatar, compromising his neutrality in talks involving Hamas (hosted in Doha).
– **Blending diplomacy with crypto and real estate ventures**: Witkoff promoted a Trump-linked crypto project (World Liberty Financial) at conferences while negotiating with Gulf states like Qatar and the UAE, which invested $2 billion. Senate Democrats launched a probe in October 2025 over potential ethics violations, questioning if his role influenced AI and investment deals.
The Witkoff family and White House deny conflicts, stating Steve divested in 2024 and complies with ethics rules; Qatar calls accusations “absurd.” However, critics like those in The Atlantic argue it exemplifies “kleptocracy,” with no evidence of policy sway but strong appearances of impropriety. The family threatened a defamation suit against The New York Times over its reporting.
Ways the Recent Gaza Ceasefire Deal Benefited Qatar’s Interests
- NATO-Like Security Guarantees Against External Threats: The executive order elevated Qatar’s defense status, providing a unilateral U.S. commitment to defend its territorial integrity—explicitly in response to the Israeli strike that killed six, including a Qatari security officer, and violated Doha’s sovereignty. This “compensation” reassured Qatar amid its mediation efforts, deterring future attacks from Israel or Iran-backed groups and allowing Doha to host Hamas without fear of reprisals. Critics noted it bypassed Senate ratification, but for Qatar, it locked in enhanced military protection via the Al Udeid base and joint operations, far surpassing prior major non-NATO ally status granted in 2022.
- Leverage from Pre-War Funding and Hosting of Hamas: Qatar’s longstanding financial support for Hamas—over $1.8 billion total, escalating to $360 million annually by 2021 for Gaza salaries, fuel, and aid—gave Doha unparalleled access and influence over the group. Approved by Israel and the U.S. to stabilize Gaza and counter the Palestinian Authority, this funding (often delivered in cash suitcases) allowed Qatar to host Hamas’s political office and leaders like Ismail Haniyeh since 2012, making it indispensable in negotiations. The ceasefire deal capitalized on this relationship, enabling Qatar to extract concessions from Hamas (e.g., hostage releases) while preserving its role as mediator, thereby sustaining its diplomatic clout without severing ties that could undermine future influence.
- Enhanced Diplomatic Prestige and Soft Power: Qatar’s pivotal mediation, including drafting elements of the 21-point peace plan shared in New York, solidified its status as a global diplomacy hub. This success, praised by President Trump and international leaders, elevated Qatar’s relevance amid regional volatility, providing a “backstop of global support” for the small Gulf state sandwiched between larger powers like Saudi Arabia and Iran. It also built on prior wins, such as facilitating the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Iran-U.S. prisoner swap, reinforcing Qatar’s image as a neutral broker capable of resolving high-stakes conflicts.
- Strengthened U.S. Alliance and Military Ties: The deal deepened Qatar’s partnership with the Trump administration, which repeatedly turned to Doha when other intermediaries failed. Hosting the U.S.’s largest Middle East air base (Al Udeid), Qatar used the mediation to prove its value on American foreign policy goals, including hostage releases and regional stability. U.S. officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, publicly thanked Qatar, paving the way for sustained defense cooperation and potential expansions in joint exercises or arms deals. This alignment also countered criticisms from U.S. Congress members wary of Qatar’s Hamas ties, by demonstrating tangible results.
- Regional Stability and Reduced Spillover Risks: By halting the war—responsible for over 46,000 Palestinian deaths and economic fallout—the ceasefire minimized threats to Qatar’s security, such as refugee flows, proxy escalations (e.g., with Hezbollah or Iran), or disruptions to Gulf energy markets. Qatar’s foreign policy emphasizes counterbalancing alliances to maintain neutrality; the deal advanced this by easing Israel-Iran tensions and preventing Syrian chaos from spilling over, allowing Doha to focus on domestic priorities like post-World Cup infrastructure without regional distractions.
- Economic and Business Leverage: Qatar’s close ties with the Trump family, including investments in Trump Organization projects and a $620 million bailout for Witkoff Group’s Park Lane Hotel, were indirectly bolstered. The ceasefire, celebrated during Trump’s Middle East trip, coincided with billions in new Gulf deals, including Trump-branded ventures in Qatar. Additionally, as a conduit for Gaza aid (hundreds of millions in prior funding with Israeli approval), Qatar positioned itself for reconstruction contracts and sovereign wealth fund opportunities in post-war Gaza, potentially yielding returns on its humanitarian investments.
- Humanitarian Leadership and Aid Coordination: The agreement’s provisions for a “surge” of aid into Gaza aligned with Qatar’s long-standing role as a donor, having funneled funds for families, salaries, and infrastructure. This not only burnished Qatar’s image as a compassionate actor but also ensured smoother aid logistics through Doha-hosted talks, reducing criticism over past diversions to Hamas and opening doors for UN partnerships in rebuilding.
While some critics, like those in the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warn Qatar may revert to pro-Hamas stances (e.g., Emir Tamim’s October 21 speech blaming Israel without mentioning the October 7 attacks), the deal’s immediate outcomes overwhelmingly served Doha’s multifaceted interests. Ongoing phases, including Hamas disarmament and governance transitions, will test whether these gains endure, but Qatar’s central guarantor role ensures continued influence.
Pro-Israel activists should protest Donald Trump’s tilt towards Israel’s enemies! Qatar and Mass Murderer Marwan Barghouti are enemies.
Editor’s note: “Palestinian” is a propaganda term, invented by the enemy.