'That's not true?' MAGA senator gets testy facing swift pushback from CNN's Jake Tapper
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) got visibly agitated during a heated CNN exchange Wednesday as he defended President Donald Trump’s decision to accept a $400 million plane from the Qatari government.
In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Mullin pushed back on the mounting bipartisan concerns surrounding Trump taking ownership of the plane, which was once owned by Qatar’s royal family, and transforming it into a new Air Force One.
“The real question is, Jake, why is this an issue?” Mullin asked. "Could you explain to me why this is a big issue? Because I can't figure it out.”
“The last time I checked, we were okay when France gave us the Statue of Liberty,” the Oklahoma lawmaker added.
Tapper quickly highlighted a key difference.
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“I think Congress authorized that,” the CNN host shot back. He added that Trump’s gift is drawing criticism from Republicans on Capitol Hill over security and ethical issues, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
“That’s not true?” Tapper asked as Mullin argued it “wasn’t brought up as an issue, they asked him.”
Mullin next turned to a familiar attack line for Trump allies – blaming former President Joe Biden and the media – as he suggested that the Qatari plane deal began under the Biden administration.
“What the media isn't telling you and what no one's talking to you about is this same 747 has been in negotiations for a year,” Mullin said. “The Biden administration is the one that started these conversations.”