05.14.25

Cantwell, Colleagues Condemn Trump’s Willingness to Accept Lavish $400M Jet From Qatar

Amid administration’s claims of rooting out fraud and mismanagement, Trump indicates intent to accept 747 jet as a gift

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined 26 of her colleagues in formally condemning President Donald Trump’s willingness to accept a $400 million 747 jet from Qatar – to be used as a new Air Force One plane in the meantime, and then gifted to the Trump Presidential Library after he leaves office.

“The Senate condemns violations of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution, including the acceptance of substantial gifts from foreign governments that would replace symbols of the United States without the consent of Congress,” the resolution states.

The resolution was led by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Chris Coons (D-DE) and was cosponsored by Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Gary Peters (D-MI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Andy Kim (D-NJ).

The full text of the resolution is HERE and below.

Condemning violations of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution, including the acceptance of substantial gifts from foreign governments that would replace symbols of the United States without the consent of Congress

Whereas the aircraft commonly referred to as Air Force One is a symbol of the United States;

Whereas Air Force One is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Office of the President of the United States;

Whereas Air Force One is equipped with some of the most sensitive technologies designed to transmit some of the most highly classified national security information of the nation;

Whereas the acceptance of presidential aircraft from a foreign government constitutes a substantial gift;

Whereas the acceptance of presidential aircraft from a foreign government poses counter-intelligence and other national security concerns;

Whereas the acceptance of a substantial gift from a foreign government could unduly influence the foreign policies of the United States;

Whereas the acceptance of presidential aircraft from a foreign government would establish a concerning precedent for the acceptance of substantial gifts from foreign governments without the consent of Congress;

Whereas the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution states that no present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind, may be accepted by the President of the United States from a King, Prince, or foreign State without the consent of Congress;

Whereas the President of the United States has a constitutional and statutory obligation to uphold the public trust;

Whereas the violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution undermines public trust and the integrity of public office in the United States.

Now, therefore be it resolved, that the Senate condemns violations of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution, including the acceptance of substantial gifts from foreign governments that would replace symbols of the United States without the consent of Congress.

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