Congress Members React to Trump's Plan to Accept Free Jet from Qatar

TIME

President Donald Trump’s plan to accept a luxury aircraft from Qatar for use as a temporary Air Force One has opened a new front in the long-running battle over ethics and foreign influence in his presidency. The prospective gift—a Boeing 747-8 valued at roughly $400 million and dubbed “a palace in the sky”—would be among the most extravagant ever offered to a U.S. president by a foreign government. Trump has said the plane would be used solely by the Department of Defense during the transition to a new fleet of presidential aircraft and would later be donated to his presidential library. But critics across the political spectrum, including some Republicans, say the arrangement raises serious legal and constitutional questions—especially given Trump’s private business ties in the region and the shadow of past emoluments controversies.

Transcript

00:00News of the Qatari government gifting Donald Trump a $400 million private jet to use as

00:08Air Force One is so corrupt that even Putin would give a double take.

00:15This is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat.

00:22So in light of the deeply troubling news of a possible Qatari-funded Air Force One and

00:28the reports that the Attorney General personally signed off on this clearly unethical deal,

00:35I am announcing a hold on all DOJ political nominees until we get more answers.

00:43Gift, bribe, call it what you want.

00:46I imagine the government of Qatar would expect a return on this investment in the President

00:52of the United States.

00:53So this is ridiculous to think that he can take this airplane.

00:56Well, what I am concerned is the safety of the President.

00:59I mean, Qatar is not, in my opinion, a great ally.

01:02I mean, they support Hamas.

01:03And so what I am worried about is the safety of the President of the United States.

01:07This is not only an outrageous example of corruption which this administration is famous for, but

01:12it is also completely negligent and, as far as I am concerned, reckless.

01:18To think that Air Force One, where the President is asked to function as our Commander-in-Chief in

01:23a situation room making life or death decisions.

01:27It is on a plane given to us by a foreign government with 200 miles of wiring in it.

01:32It is an indication to me of complete recklessness on the part of the President.

01:37Everybody needs to know that Air Force One is not like every other Boeing.

01:40And it is going to have to be put through a lot of paces and probably every square inch

01:44analyzed before I think the President should consider it as primary means of transportation.

01:47You are talking about the Department of Defense accepting it?

01:50Yes.

01:51Yeah, okay.

01:52I got no problem with that.

01:53I mean, it is made in America, made by Boeing.

01:58I don't think that President Trump, he doesn't need a bribe, okay?

02:03And I think a lot of people are saying that.

02:04That has nothing to do with it.

02:05He needs a newer plane, 40 years old.

02:08I am sure there will be some money exchanged hands, probably trying to pay for it, trying

02:12to make it official.

02:16We don't like handouts, but at the end of the day, they are trying to be nice with an

02:21American-made product.

02:24Let's go for it.

02:25It is worth the investment here in this country to build a big, beautiful job here in the United

02:30States.

02:31And if he wants my advice, that would be it.

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended