Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Monday rolled out a new bill aimed at President Trump’s potential acceptance of a Qatari luxury jet to serve as the next Air Force One.
The Democratic leader unveiled a new bill barring a foreign-owned aircraft from being used as Air Force One. It would specifically prohibit taxpayer funds from being used to retrofit any such plane.
“Donald Trump has shown time and again – he will sell out the American people and the Presidency if it means filling his own pockets,” Schumer said in a statement.
“Not only would it take billions of taxpayer dollars to even attempt to retrofit and secure this plane, but there’s absolutely no amount of modifications that can guarantee it will be secure. It is now on the Senate to prioritize our national security, protect Americans, and ensure that a foreign-owned plane never gets the call sign ‘Air Force One.’”
The legislation, titled the Presidential Airlift Security Act, marks the latest attempt by Democrats to take on Trump’s attempt to accept the plane, which is valued at $400 million — including by Schumer himself.
The New York Democrat last week announced plans to place a hold on all political nominees for the Justice Department, which has reportedly deemed the potential transaction as “legally permissible.”
On top of that, Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) tried to advance resolutions via unanimous consent that would have condemned “any acceptance of Presidential aircraft, or any other substantial gift, from a foreign government” and authorized a lawsuit to enforce the Emoluments Clause, respectively.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is also looking to force a vote on Trump’s planned $1.9 billion arms sale to the Qataris, alleging corruption because the Trump Organization has signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to build a golf course with a firm associated with the nation’s sovereign wealth fund.
The items were filed as joint resolutions of disapproval, meaning Democrats can force floor action. It is unclear when the votes will be held.
If accepted, the luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft would first be received by the Department of Defense and go through extensive work and costs to be retrofitted to serve as the presidential aircraft. At the end of Trump’s term, it would be transferred to his presidential library.
A pair of new Boeing planes to replace the current aircraft that serve as Air Force One have been beset by delays and cost overruns, which has frustrated Trump.
Senate Republicans have indicated that they are uneasy with the possible arrangement for numerous reasons, including questions surrounding the safety and security ramifications.
Multiple members have also wondered whether it is even worth it to accept this gift given that it would only fly for a limited period of time before going to Trump’s presidential library.
“This gift from Qatar is rife with legal, ethical, and practical impediments, including the potential for espionage. I’m not sure how we would be able to adequately inspect and outfit it to prevent that from happening,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in a statement last week.
“Also, by the time the plane is done, the President’s term may well be nearly finished,” she continued. “Ultimately, I’m not sure why this is necessary at all.”
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