Washington: This is the parable of the president and the putt.

It was Monday morning in Washington and US President Donald Trump was in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, signing one more executive order before departing for his expedition to the Middle East. Over the weekend, news had broken about his plan to accept a $US400 million ($625 million) plane from Qatar to use as Air Force One. Questions abounded.

This luxurious gift from the Qataris presented all sorts of concerns – ethical, legal, logistical, mechanical. There was also the fact that Trump had once described Qatar as a “funder of terrorism at a very high level”. Even some of his dearest supporters were concerned. “We cannot accept a $US400 million ‘gift’ from jihadists in suits,” Laura Loomer, a far-right activist whose advice the president has occasionally heeded, wrote on social media. “This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true.”

Trump was having none of it.

“They’re........

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