Democrats Introduce Bill to Block Qatar’s 747 ‘Gift’ to Trump

Proposal would prevent any aircraft once owned by a foreign government from being used as Air Force One.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 01:10 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One, a modified Boeing 747-200 referred to by the military as VC-25A [Credit: Shutterstock/Evan El-Amin]

Key Takeaways:

Senate Democrats introduced the "Presidential Airlift Security Act of 2025" to prevent a luxury Boeing 747-8i, offered by Qatar to former President Trump, from being used as Air Force One.
The bill aims to prohibit any foreign government-owned aircraft from presidential use, citing national security risks, potential foreign influence (seen as a bribe by critics), and the estimated billions in taxpayer funds and years required for secure modifications.
While Qatar denies the offer is a bribe and calls it a "normal gift" between allies, reports indicate the U.S. government initially sought aircraft alternatives due to delays in new Air Force One deliveries, contradicting Trump's claim of an unprompted offer.

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Senate Democrats on Monday introduced a bill aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from accepting a luxury Boeing 747-8i from the government of Qatar.

The Presidential Airlift Security Act of 2025 would bar the use of Department of Defense funding to procure, modify, restore, or maintain “an aircraft previously owned by a foreign government, an entity controlled by a foreign government, or a representative of a foreign government for the purposes of providing presidential airlift options.”