A group of senior Democratic senators is urging the Pentagon’s inspector general to investigate the Department of Defense’s involvement in President Trump’s acceptance of a plane as a gift from Qatar.
Led by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif), nine lawmakers have asked the Department of Defense Inspector General to look into the Trump administration’s potential role in facilitating the acceptance of a Boeing 747-8 intended for use as a new air force transport. This request was made in a letter sent earlier this week.
Trump recently confirmed his plan to accept the aircraft, which would be one of the largest foreign gifts ever received by a U.S. president, stating that the transaction is “very public and transparent.”
However, several lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who is a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, have expressed concerns about the constitutional, legal, and national security implications of such ownership.
“This foreign emolument and the potential involvement of the DOD could raise serious concerns regarding foreign influence and conflicts of interest,” they wrote. “It might entangle the DOD in Trump’s personal financial affairs, thereby undermining public trust in the military sector.”
Some Democrats, along with a few Republicans, have pointed out that having a 13-year-old plane from Qatar raises questions about the administration’s intentions regarding the Air Force’s plans for presidential use. Critics suggest that designating such planes as part of the Air Force could allow sensitive systems and communications access to be compromised.
Trump has indicated that once the plane is officially in use, it would be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. “I’m not going to reject such an offer,” he told reporters, adding, “It would be foolish to turn down a free, expensive aircraft.”
Boeing had signed a contract in 2018 to replace two aging military versions of the Boeing 747 for the U.S. government. Despite delays pushing aircraft delivery to at least 2027, Trump asserted that Qatar’s plane could serve as a suitable substitute.
However, it hasn’t been disclosed that retrofitting the aircraft would require extensive renovations, including new power systems and electrical wiring, which could take years and cost hundreds of millions.
Reed joined the other senators in stating that Trump’s plans “raise significant concerns.” The administration appears to be offering cover for the relocation of the aircraft as a legitimate gift while imposing retrofitting costs on U.S. taxpayers.
“DOD risks becoming entangled in a risky endeavor to bypass constitutional restrictions on receiving personal gifts from foreign governments without Congressional consent,” they noted in their letter to Inspector General Steven Stebbins.
The lawmakers have requested details on the costs and time required to modify the aircraft for presidential use, as well as assessments of the national security risks posed by incorporating a foreign-government-provided plane into the Air Force’s fleet.
They also seek clarity on the legality of Trump’s decision to accept the plane.
