Schumer Unveils Bill To Stop Trump From Turning Qatari Jet Into Air Force One

On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) proposed legislation to discourage the Trump administration from receiving a roughly $400 million luxury aircraft known as the “Flying Palace” from Qatar and block money from being spent turning it into the next Air Force One.

Named the “Presidential Airlift Security Act of 2025,” the bill would block the Department of Defense (DoD) from using funds allocated for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to procure, modify, restore, or maintain aircraft previously owned by foreign governments or their representatives for presidential airlift purposes.

“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.'”

It was first revealed a little more than a week ago that President Donald Trump’s administration was in talks to obtain the Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the Qatari royal family. A wave of criticism, including from some who generally support Trump, ensued amid concerns about Qatar spending massive sums of money to gain influence in the United States and using its riches to bankroll the terrorist group Hamas and the Middle Eastern news powerhouse Al Jazeera. The oil-rich government also frequently invites politicians on state-funded junkets to the Middle East, where they are treated to all the luxuries that Qatar has to offer.

Schumer introduced his bill days after placing a hold on Trump’s political nominees for the Department of Justice (DOJ) until more clarity is given on the U.S. government’s plans to receive the jet. He also joined fellow Senate Democrats in unveiling a resolution to condemn the idea, citing an ABC News report with sources claiming the aircraft would be transferred to Trump’s presidential library foundation shortly before the president leaves office.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday the plane is “not a personal donation or gift” to the president and “everyone who wrote that last week should go and correct their stories.” She also said the donation would be “accepted according to all legal and ethical obligations” and the plane would be “retrofitted to the highest of standards by the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force.”

Trump, who visited Qatar last week during a Middle East swing and attended the signing ceremony for a deal in which Qatar Airways agreed to purchase up to 210 Boeing jets, dismissed the doubters in a post on Truth Social.

“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,” Trump said. “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. 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!”