Trump said on Monday that it would be “stupid” for him to refuse Qatar’s offer of the Boeing 747-8 airplane, which would be used as U.S. “Air Force One,“ the jet American presidents travel on when they fly around the globe.
The aircraft eventually would be donated to Trump's presidential library foundation and used by him after leaving office.
Trump's interest in the plane became public as he made a high-profile Middle East trip that included an announcement by state carrier Qatar Airways that it would purchase up to 210 widebody jets from Boeing.
Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the aircraft would have to be checked for surveillance equipment and receive security upgrades.
The Defense Department is already procuring a replacement for the current, aging Air Force One, with delivery by Boeing expected within a couple of years.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to block all of Trump's nominees to the Justice Department until the agency reports what it knows about the Qatari offer. Three nominees are currently before the Senate.
The Democratic National Committee flew a plane dragging a “Qatar-a-Lago” banner near Trump's Florida Mar-a-Lago home on Wednesday.
Schumer, of New York, said he wants answers to whether the Qatari government would pay for modifications needed to protect the president and secure communications.
A White House spokesperson on Monday said details of the gift were still being arranged. A new commercial 747-8 costs approximately $400 million.
Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said Trump taking the plane would be a mistake.
“I think it’s not worth the appearance of impropriety,“ he told Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime” program. “I wouldn’t take it.”
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