‘Dramatic Break’: CNN Reports on ‘Pro-Trump Media Stars’ Revolting Over $400 Million ‘Murder’ Jet

CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter said the “pro-Trump media stars” revolting against President Donald Trump’s acceptance of a $400 million plane from Qatar — paid for by a regime they say supports “terror” and the “murder of American citizens” — represents the “biggest break” between the president and his supporters of his second term.

ABC News broke the bombshell news on Sunday that the president will accept a luxurious $400 million “flying palace” to serve as Air Force One until it is transferred — at taxpayer expense — to his presidential library. Trump and his administration insists it’s not “bribery,” while critics from every quarter — including staunch MAGA allies like Ben Shapiro, Laura Loomer, and Eric Erickson — have denounced the move. Some have cited support for terrorism as grounds for criticism.

On Tuesday’s edition of CNN News Central, Stelter twisted the knife over the MAGA-on-Trump action, playing clips of the critiques and noting that one MAGA “star” even floated “legal” trouble for Trump over the plane:

KATE BOLDUAN: What are you seeing?

BRIAN STELTER: This is the biggest break that I’ve seen in the first four months of Trump’s return to office between his pro-Trump propaganda machine, those pro-trump stars that are always supporting him, and the president.

This is a dramatic break, not among every single MAGA media star out there, but among many of them.

It’s one thing for Democratic lawmakers to be calling this profoundly unethical and possibly illegal. We’ve heard a lot of that.

But some MAGA commentators are saying the same things. In the past 24 hours, we’ve heard prominent pro-Trump media stars call this plan to accept a jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One, a quote, “bribe,” a “grift,” and a “stain” on the administration.

And this is even coming from figures like Laura Loomer, the far right provocateur, who has a direct line to Trump. I mean, these are people who are usually steadfast supporters of the president, but in this case, they’re speaking out against the deal.

Let me show you two examples. One is from Ben Shapiro, who co-founded the Daily Wire. He’s a prominent podcaster. The other is Eric Erickson, the Radio Talk Show host.

BEN SHAPIRO: That’s not America first. Like, please define America first in a way that says you should take sacks of cash from the Qatari Royals who are behind Al Jazeera. It just isn’t America first, in any conceivable way. If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop.

ERIC ERICKSON: My problem with taking this plane from Qatar is I do not think the president of the United States of America Should sit and fly on a plane purchased with the same money used to murder American citizens

BRIAN STELTER: As you hear there, a lot of the criticism centers on Qatar, which has been a home for Hamas leaders for a number of years, though the country reportedly kicked out those Hamas officials back last November, right after Trump won the election.

So a lot criticism is about Qatar and about what Qatar is trying to get from President Trump.

Some of the other commentators are focusing on the optics of this, the appearance of conflict. Ben Shapiro, for example, was saying to his viewers yesterday, what if the Bidens did this? What if it was Hunter or Joe Biden? And trying to say this is hypocritical and trying to take a principled stand.

Watch above via CNN News Central.