The Pentagon has confirmed that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted a Boeing 747 jet offered by Qatar for use as Air Force One, stirring significant constitutional, ethical, and security debates in Washington.
The Gulf emirate’s gift, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, comes under scrutiny due to the US Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits government officials from accepting gifts “from any King, Prince or foreign State.” Critics argue the acceptance of a foreign government’s aircraft for the president’s use could compromise national security and violate federal law.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated on Wednesday, “The Secretary of Defence has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.” He added that the Department of Defence will “work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the President of the United States,” directing further inquiries to the US Air Force.
President Donald Trump dismissed ethical concerns, calling the offer a “great gesture” and describing it as “stupid” for the US government to reject the donation. Speaking at the White House last week, the 78-year-old billionaire said, “I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person (and) say ‘no we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’”
However, opposition voices in Congress have been quick to challenge the move. Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced the Presidential Airlift Security Act earlier this week, aiming to block Trump from using the aircraft. The proposed legislation would prohibit the Pentagon from using taxpayer money to retrofit any plane previously owned by a foreign government for presidential use.
“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.”
While some Republicans have expressed reservations about accepting the jet, Senate Majority Leader John Thune — a Trump ally — is under no obligation to bring the bill to the Senate floor. Nevertheless, Schumer plans to push for a vote by attaching the legislation as an amendment to forthcoming spending bills that must pass later this year.
