Joe Gould

Washington, D.C.

Defense Reporter at POLITICO

@Politico defense reporter. DMs open. Signal: reporterjoe.01 Ex @Defense_News, @ArmyTimes, @NYDailyNews. BK native.

Articles

Ukrainian delegation to brief senators amid Russia sanctions push

3 days ago | politico.com | Joe Gould |Paul McLeary

Zelenskyy allies visit Congress to bolster Russia sanctions bill. Soldiers of Ukraine's 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade fire a rocket toward Russian positions at the front line in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on June 3, 2025. | Andrii Marienko/AP A Ukrainian delegation is set to brief U.S. senators Wednesday as lawmakers weigh a sweeping sanctions bill targeting Russia and its biggest energy customers, China and India. Sen.
A brewing natsec fight (almost) no one’s heard of

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Joe Gould |Robbie Gramer |John Sakellariadis

“If you don't have access to these bands, can you create an Iron Dome that is effective?” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said. | Francis Chung/POLITICO With help from John Hendel, Amy MacKinnon, Sue Allan and Daniel LippmanSubscribe here | | A wonky fight over government-controlled wireless frequencies is heating up because of a provision in the House-passed sprawling reconciliation megabill.
Trump administration accepts Qatari jet for Air Force One

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Paul McLeary |Joe Gould

The United States has officially accepted a controversial luxury jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One, according to the Pentagon, despite concerns from lawmakers and MAGA allies about the financial and ethical implications. The $400 million jet will likely cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to bring it up to presidential standards, including a security sweep of the entire aircraft and costly upgrades to ensure classified communications.
How Congress could crush Trump's Qatari plane gift

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Joe Gould |Connor O'Brien

Lawmakers are weighing everything from sticking amendments in defense legislation to holding up nominees as they try to stop the president from accepting the foreign-owned aircraft. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to begin his Middle East visit. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) | Getty Images President Donald Trump’s desire to accept a luxury jet from Qatar has hit political turbulence, scrambling the usual battle lines on Capitol Hill as lawmakers weigh action.
How Congress could crush Trump's Qatari plane gift

2 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Joe Gould |Connor O'Brien

11 hours agoSenate confirms Charles Kushner to become ambassador to FranceThe Senate on Monday confirmed the nomination of Charles Kushner to become the ambassador to France, cementing a family member of President Trump to …11 hours agoRep. LaMonica McIver charged with assault over ICE facility visitThe U.S. Attorney for New Jersey announced charges against Rep.
How Congress could crush Trump's Qatari plane gift

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Joe Gould |Connor O'Brien

President Donald Trump's desire to accept a luxury jet from Qatar has hit political turbulence, scrambling the usual battle lines on Capitol Hill as lawmakers weigh action. Trump's move is deeply unpopular — a gift for Democrats and a reckoning for Republicans. Critics, including within his own party and among MAGA allies, cite security risks, taxpayer costs and ethical concerns. Democrats are weighing tools to block the deal, such as sticking amendments into defense legislation to stymie it.
Dems move to block Middle East arms sales over Qatar plane deal

3 weeks ago | politico.com | Joe Gould |Robbie Gramer
Senate Armed Services leader pans Trump’s Qatar jet plan

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Joe Gould |Paul McLeary

Sen. Roger Wicker, the powerful leader of the Armed Services Committee, disparaged President Donald Trump’s plan to accept a Boeing aircraft from Qatar — adding to a bipartisan chorus of lawmakers criticizing the potential gift. Wicker disputed the central rationale for the swap — which Trump is touting as a no-cost solution for a new Air Force One — noting that officials would need to scrub the aircraft for any surveillance equipment and install numerous security upgrades.
Trump’s free plane could cost taxpayers millions

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Joe Gould |Connor O'Brien

President Donald Trump insists he’s getting a “free, very expensive airplane” from Qatar’s royal family. But it’s not much of a gift for the American taxpayer. The Qatari Defense Ministry is talking to the White House about transferring the luxury-configured Boeing jet to the Pentagon, which would oversee its retrofitting into a makeshift Air Force One.
Making sense of Trump’s defense spending math

1 month ago | politico.com | Joe Gould |Connor O'Brien |Eric Bazail-Eimil |Robbie Gramer

Republican hawks say President Donald Trump needs to enter high-stakes negotiations with Iran and Russia with a better funded U.S. military behind him. | Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images With help from Jack Detsch, Daniel Lippman and Kyle CheneySubscribe here | | President DONALD TRUMP and Defense Secretary PETE HEGSETH have promised a $1 trillion defense budget. Their budget doesn’t deliver it — unless you squint.