☕ The South African refugees, explained.

Good morning!

President Trump’s decision to accept a gifted jet from Qatar has divided his Republican party, with questions over conflicts of interest and national security dominating the headlines. If you’re getting to this story a little late, we break it down below.

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Some headlines from this morning:

President Trump has signed an arms deal worth over $142 billion with Saudi Arabia, described by the White House as the largest defense cooperation agreement in U.S. history. The agreement covers five categories including air force, space technologies, and air and missile defense systems. Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman met with key Gulf leaders, where the President declared the U.S.-Saudi relationship is "more powerful than ever before." Several additional agreements were signed, moving closer to Saudi Arabia's promised $600 billion investment in the U.S.

Microsoft is cutting over 6,000 jobs, approximately 3% of its workforce, as part of organizational changes aimed at positioning the company for success "in a dynamic marketplace." The tech giant announced yesterday it is creating "high-performing teams and increasing agility by reducing layers with fewer managers" and a greater reliance on AI. This represents Microsoft's most significant workforce reduction since COVID-related layoffs. The announcement comes weeks after Microsoft reported quarterly earnings that exceeded market expectations.

President Trump has announced the U.S. will ease sanctions on Syria that were imposed during Bashar al-Assad's rule. Assad fled Syria in December last year when a coalition of rebel groups overwhelmed his security forces. The U.S. maintained sanctions while assessing the leadership of new President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who previously fought for al Qaeda. Al-Sharaa has since renounced his connections to the terror group, and stated he is temporarily assuming the presidency until Syria can hold elections.

The Menendez brothers have been resentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Lyle and Erik were initially sentenced to life without parole in 1996 for murdering their parents in 1989. During their trial, both brothers testified they had endured years of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse from their father before firing multiple shots at close range, which they argued was self-defense. The case received renewed public interest following Netflix's 2024 series "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story." The LA County Superior Court ruled yesterday in favor of reducing their sentences, with a parole hearing scheduled for June 13.

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President Donald Trump is visiting Qatar today for the second day of his Middle East state trip.

The White House has confirmed discussions about accepting a Qatari Boeing 747 aircraft for potential use as Air Force One.

Qatar has proposed gifting the aircraft under the condition that ownership transfers to Trump's presidential library after his term ends.

Trump said accepting the offer would be logical and noted it could serve temporarily while Boeing works to fulfil its contract for new Air Force One planes.

The potential arrangement has prompted discussions about foreign influence considerations and aircraft security protocols.

Qatar’s offers

Qatari officials have stated no agreement has been finalized regarding the aircraft.

The Boeing 747 under consideration is approximately a decade old and features luxury accommodations including three bedrooms, a private lounge, and an office.

A new Boeing 747 typically costs around $400 million, which would make this the highest-valued gift ever accepted by a U.S. president if the transfer proceeds.

The U.S. currently operates two Air Force One aircraft dating from the 1990s, with Boeing contracted to build replacements despite experiencing delays and budget increases.

During a February tour, Trump expressed frustration with Boeing's timeline and suggested the Qatari aircraft could be an alternative.

Security experts note extensive upgrades would be required before any transferred aircraft could meet presidential transportation standards.

Will Trump take it?

The U.S. Constitution and federal regulations prohibit elected officials from accepting gifts valued over $480.

Trump and administration representatives have stated the arrangement would be legal since the aircraft would be given to the Defense Department rather than to Trump personally.

"The Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The proposal has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers and some Trump supporters, including commentator Laura Loomer, who said accepting the gift would be a "stain" on the administration.

Critics have noted Qatar has been accused of funding organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas.

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Fifty-nine white South Africans arrived in the U.S. on Monday and were granted refugee status under a program created during the Trump administration.

The group will be resettled in ten states by local refugee organizations based on claims of persecution.

According to the White House, the program was established to provide a pathway for Afrikaners facing what the administration described as "unjust racial discrimination" in South Africa.

President Trump said the program followed what he called "genocide" against white South Africans.

Background

Afrikaners are a South African community of mostly Dutch origin who established the 1948 Apartheid system, which enforced racial segregation.

Under Apartheid, land ownership became heavily concentrated among white South Africans.

Though apartheid ended in 1994, land ownership disparities remain. Black South Africans comprise over 80% of the population but own approximately 4% of the land.

Land Reform Legislation

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced the Expropriation Act in January 2025, allowing the government to redistribute land deemed in the public interest.

The law includes provisions enabling land redistribution without compensation in specific cases, such as when land is abandoned.

President Trump criticized the law on Truth Social, stating: "South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY."

President Ramaphosa responded on X that no land had been confiscated, noting that the U.S. has similar laws balancing private ownership with public interest.

Responses

In February, a South African court ruled that claims of genocide against white South Africans were "clearly imagined" and "not real."

President Ramaphosa said he contacted President Trump to dispute Trump's characterization of the situation.

The decision to fast-track these 59 visas comes amid broader changes to U.S. refugee policies.

In January, the administration suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, affecting over 120,000 conditionally accepted refugees from other countries.