While Democrats have largely ridiculed President Donald Trump’s decision to accept a $400 million jet from the Qatari royal family on behalf of the U.S. government, Republicans have raised national security concerns and admitted they have not been briefed on the details of the deal.
Fox News Digital asked Senate Republicans for their reaction to Trump deciding to accept the luxury Boeing jet from Qatar. While Trump continues his diplomatic trip through the Middle East, House Republicans are busy finalizing his ‘big, beautiful bill’ at committee markups on Capitol Hill.
‘I actually haven’t paid attention to it,’ Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said. ‘I’m sorry to be so out of the loop on that. I’ve just been thinking about Medicaid and about what the House is sending over.’
And Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, another Trump ally, said she didn’t know enough about the deal to comment on it when pressed by Fox News Digital.
‘I need to find out from the administration what exactly is going on,’ Ernst added.
Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine, Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Eric Schmitt of Missouri also admitted they don’t know the details of the deal.
However, Collins, a Republican with a willingness to buck the party on certain issues, seemed to align more with Democrats’ reaction to the gift, saying she suspected there could be issues within the GIFT Act, which prohibits federal employees from accepting gifts from foreign governments.
Democrats have pointed to the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution as proof the Qatari gift is ‘unconstitutional.’ The emoluments clause states that no elected official should accept a gift from a foreign country without consent from Congress.
‘My concern is his safety,’ Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla, told Fox News Digital. ‘Qatar supports Hamas. The Hamas leaders live in Qatar, so my concern is the safety of the president. How are we going to know that the plane is safe?’
The U.S. Department of Defense is expected to retrofit the Boeing 747-8 luxury jet to be used as Air Force One. Some Republicans still have national security concerns.
‘Qatar has a relationship with China, a relationship with Hamas. That would scare me,’ Scott admitted.
But Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo, said a ‘free plane’ sounds like a ‘good deal for the government.’
The Trump administration has continued to defend Qatar’s gift to the United States. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed it was not ‘Trump’s plane’ and that it was donated to the U.S. Air Force.
On Wednesday morning, Trump signed a series of agreements with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, which included a Qatari purchasing agreement for 160 American Boeing planes, defense agreements and a declaration of cooperation between the countries.
Trump defended his decision to accept the Qatari jet Tuesday, saying it would be ‘stupid’ not to and emphasizing that he accepted it on behalf of the U.S. government, not himself.
‘The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME! It is a gift from a Nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years. It will be used by our Government as a temporary Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeings, which are very late on delivery, arrive. Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done,’ Trump said on Truth Social Tuesday.
‘This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country. Thank you for your attention to this matter!’ Trump added.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment about plans to discuss the deal with Congress.