A viral meme that went around in May 2025 has caused widespread puzzlement on the internet. According to the meme, former US President Bill Clinton was gifted a $17 million helicopter by Saudi Arabia when he left office and that he is still using it today. The post concludes with a dig at Democrats, stating, “Not one single Democrat had anything to say.”
But this salacious statement has been heavily discredited. As reported by Snopes, a reputable fact-checking website, the meme originated on America’s Last Line of Defense (ALLOD) Facebook page, which is notorious for posting satirical and fictional work. The meme itself carries a tiny “Satire” tag, but it was either missed or disregarded by most social media users.
The Satirical Source Behind the Meme
The ALLOD page, as well as its parent site The Dunning-Kruger Times, is satirical in nature. Its description is: “Nothing on this page is real.” Similarly, The Dunning-Kruger Times does not try to disguise its fictional character. As the site proudly claims, “Everything on this website is fiction. If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined.”
Notwithstanding these disclaimers, the meme spread widely on social media sites such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), where users overwhelmingly assumed the statement to be true. Such misinformation is being circulated again in reaction to recent reports that Qatar has extended an offer of a Boeing 747-8 to the Trump administration to use as Air Force One, sparking renewed interest in foreign gifts to American politicians.
Image Traced Back to Charter Company
To check if the photo used in the meme is genuine, Snopes did a reverse image search. The outcome revealed that the helicopter in question is owned by South Bay Helicopter, a San Francisco-based private charter firm. The same picture was posted on the company’s social media in 2022, verifying that the plane has nothing to do with Bill Clinton or the Saudi government.
No Record of Lavish Gift to Bill Clinton
Most notably, there exists no official reporting that Clinton was given such a helicopter by the Saudis. Additionally, there is no credible indication supporting the claim. US presidents occasionally receive ceremonial gifts from foreign leaders. However, these presents are strictly recorded and regulated under US law.