ACTION ALERT: The Senate Must Block
Donald Trump’s Corrupt Arms Deal
Win Without War
(May 22, 2025) — ABC News reports it may be the “most valuable gift EVER extended to the United States from a foreign government” [1]:
Donald Trump has reportedly accepted a $400 million “palace in the sky” from the Qatari royal family that he plans to use as Air Force One — until he transfers the Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to his presidential library foundation [2]
It’s a security risk. It’s a corruption concern. It’s likely unconstitutional. And nothing is free.
But the cost is so much higher than private jets and tech. These “gifts” and “investments” come amidst news of record-breaking arms sales: including nearly $2 BILLION in advanced MQ-9B drones to Qatar. [3]
If you’re thinking “someone should do something,” the good news is that someone is. The Senate has the authority to check Trump’s self-dealing weapon sales, and Senator Chris Murphy has vowed to force a vote to do exactly that. The thing is, even a Senator can’t work alone.
Weapons regularly used to commit apparent war crimes are ‘made in the USA’ by arms dealers like Raytheon and Boeing, approved for sale by the US government, and delivered by US military transportation to destinations across the globe.
The bombs and bullets sold in our name have had devastating consequences: they’re used by oppressive governments to kill their own people, have been sold on the black market in Yemen, wound up in the hands of the Taliban, and created incomprehensible levels of suffering in Gaza.
That’s not all: These sales send a clear signal to human rights-abusing groups that there won’t be any consequences for their deadly and destabilizing actions.
Shamefully, Qatar isn’t the only government trying to curry favor with the Trump administration through backroom deals. Months after a multi-BILLION dollar investment from the United Arab Emirates into Trump’s cryptocurrency, the White House is reportedly considering lifting restrictions that had excluded them from major chip exports. [4]
While the UAE secures an arms deal with the US worth $1.32 BILLION of CH-47F Chinook Helicopters and more, we cannot ignore its direct support for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, where violence has displaced 12 million people and famine was declared last year. [5] Amnesty International reports widespread use of sexual violence by the RSF in its ongoing conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces, with violations from both sides amounting to war crimes.
It’s time for the US government to take human rights abuses seriously and since Trump can’t be counted on, this is where we come in. Because no matter who sits in the White House, we’ll continue to raise our voices against a warmongering US foreign policy that hurts innocent people and puts the world at risk.
Today though, with mounting evidence of the Trump administration’s corruption — and growing discontent from members of Congress and the US public — we have fuel for our fight to hold them accountable.
Thank you for working for peace,
The Win Without War team
P.S.: Many of you may be aware that Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, two staff members from the Israeli embassy, were shot and killed last night in Washington, DC. We unequivocally condemn this violence and continue to work for a world where every person can live safely with dignity. You can find Win Without War’s full statement here.
Sources:
[1] ABC News, “Trump administration poised to accept ‘palace in the sky’ as a gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources”
[2] The Guardian, “Trump administration accepts jet from Qatar for possible use as Air Force One”
[3] Newsweek, “Biggest Arms Deal in History a Win for Trump”
[4] Newsweek, “UAE Seeks AI Deal After Investing in Trump-Linked Crypto”
[5] Washington Post, “Sudan’s civil war fueled by secret arms shipment from UAE and Iran”
