US accepts Boeing jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One
Qatar's offer of the jet -- which is valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars -- has raised huge constitutional and ethical questions, as well as security concerns about using an aircraft donated by a foreign power for use as the ultra-sensitive presidential plane.
"The Secretary of Defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.
"The Department of Defense 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," Parnell said, referring questions to the US Air Force.
The US Constitution prohibits government officials from accepting gifts "from any King, Prince or foreign State," in a section known as the Emoluments Clause.
But Trump has denied there are any ethical issues involved with accepting the plane, saying it would be "stupid" for the US government not to take the aircraft.
"It's a great gesture," the 78-year-old billionaire told reporters at the White House last week when asked if the oil-rich Gulf state would expect anything in exchange.
"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.'"
The leader of the Democratic minority in the US Senate introduced legislation earlier this week that would block Trump from using the aircraft.
Chuck Schumer's Presidential Airlift Security Act would prohibit the Pentagon from using taxpayer funds to retrofit any plane previously owned by a foreign government for use as the presidential plane.
"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."
Although several Republicans have voiced concerns about the proposed gift, Senate Majority Leader John Thune -- a Trump loyalist -- is not obliged to bring the bill to the floor of Congress's upper chamber.
But Schumer plans to force a vote by offering it as an amendment to spending bills that Republicans will have to pass later in the year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
32 minutes ago
- France 24
Send in the Marines? Trump deploys troops to LA protests
Americas 43:10 Issued on: From the show The United States' main foreign expedition force deployed to… Los Angeles, this on top of the US president enrolling the National Guard in a show of force against pockets of violent protest against the arrest of undocumented immigrants at their place of work. It's a fight that Donald Trump wanted to pick for a long time, going over the head of the Democratic governor of California just days before another first, in Washington a US president staging a military parade on his own birthday. In his first term, Trump's Republican party was the party of states rights, regularly accusing the federal government of overreach. How did it all change so fast? A nation with a determined far-right that's up against a splintered mainstream, that sounds a lot like France where the next presidential election's in two years. As Marine Le Pen's party harks back to its trademark anti-immigrant rhetoric, a topic where a majority of US citizens back Trump, what lessons from the seemingly fast-changing form of democracy in America? Produced by François Picard, Maya Yataghene, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Alessandro Xenos.
Fashion Network
an hour ago
- Fashion Network
French Senate to vote on regulating fast fashion
The French Senate is set to vote Tuesday on a bill regulating the fast fashion industry by sanctioning companies and banning advertisements. The bill targets Chinese-founded e-commerce giant Shein, which sells lower-quality clothes at very low prices. Fast fashion companies export large volumes of easily replaceable items to France, causing pollution and saturating markets. The lower house National Assembly adopted the bill in March 2024. The Senate will vote on it later Tuesday and is expected to pass it with government backing and widespread support in the chamber. The vote will not mark the final legislative step. A joint committee of senators and lower house deputies will meet in September to produce a joint text before the law's final adoption. "The text plans to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry," said Anne-Cécile Violland, the center-right member of parliament who proposed the bill. Fast fashion continues to grow in France. Between 2010 and 2023, the value of advertised products rose from €2.3 billion to €3.2 billion. According to the state environmental agency Ademe, approximately 48 clothing items per person enter the French market each year, while 35 items are discarded every second. "Fast fashion poses a triple threat," said Minister for Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher. "It promotes overconsumption, causes ecological disaster and threatens our businesses." The minister condemned an "invasion" of products that "do not last" and expressed hope that the bill would help drive change across Europe. Pannier-Runacher said that once France adopts the bill, the European Commission will review it to ensure compliance with European law. Targeting fast-fashion The Senate, where the right holds a majority, modified the bill to specifically target "ultra" fast fashion companies such as Asian websites Shein and Temu. The Senate's amendments aim to exclude French and European brands that could otherwise be affected, such as Zara, H&M and Kiabi. However, the bill will still require these fashion giants to inform their customers about the environmental impact of their products. "I have no intention of forcing French brands that contribute to our country's economic vitality to pay a single euro," said rapporteur Sylvie Valente Le Hir, a member of the right-wing The Republicans party. The bill will impose stricter sanctions on fast-fashion companies by scoring their "environmental communication," Pannier-Runacher said. This "eco-score" will apply to all fast-fashion companies. Companies that receive the lowest scores will face government-imposed taxes of up to €5 per product in 2025, rising to €10 per product by 2030. This tax cannot exceed 50% of the product's original price. Advertisement ban The bill will also impose sanctions on influencers promoting fast fashion products and ban fast fashion advertisements. "The regulation of the fast fashion industry will only succeed through a collective effort, not by targeting a single actor," Shein spokesperson Quentin Ruffat told RTL radio on Monday. Ruffat warned that the law would introduce "a tax of €10 per sold item of clothing by 2030" and would "impact the purchasing power" of French consumers. Environmental organizations also voiced concerns that lawmakers could misinterpret the bill. "Debates may amount to an interesting framework that still lacks substance," said Green Senator Jacques Fernique. On Monday, the Textiles Industry Union (UIT) recognized the bill as "a first step" and expressed hope for its "rapid adoption ... even if the text does not entirely fit our expectations."
Fashion Network
2 hours ago
- Fashion Network
French Senate to vote on regulating fast fashion
The French Senate is set to vote Tuesday on a bill regulating the fast fashion industry by sanctioning companies and banning advertisements. The bill targets Chinese-founded e-commerce giant Shein, which sells lower-quality clothes at very low prices. Fast fashion companies export large volumes of easily replaceable items to France, causing pollution and saturating markets. The lower house National Assembly adopted the bill in March 2024. The Senate will vote on it later Tuesday and is expected to pass it with government backing and widespread support in the chamber. The vote will not mark the final legislative step. A joint committee of senators and lower house deputies will meet in September to produce a joint text before the law's final adoption. "The text plans to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry," said Anne-Cécile Violland, the center-right member of parliament who proposed the bill. Fast fashion continues to grow in France. Between 2010 and 2023, the value of advertised products rose from €2.3 billion to €3.2 billion. According to the state environmental agency Ademe, approximately 48 clothing items per person enter the French market each year, while 35 items are discarded every second. "Fast fashion poses a triple threat," said Minister for Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher. "It promotes overconsumption, causes ecological disaster and threatens our businesses." The minister condemned an "invasion" of products that "do not last" and expressed hope that the bill would help drive change across Europe. Pannier-Runacher said that once France adopts the bill, the European Commission will review it to ensure compliance with European law. Targeting fast-fashion The Senate, where the right holds a majority, modified the bill to specifically target "ultra" fast fashion companies such as Asian websites Shein and Temu. The Senate's amendments aim to exclude French and European brands that could otherwise be affected, such as Zara, H&M and Kiabi. However, the bill will still require these fashion giants to inform their customers about the environmental impact of their products. "I have no intention of forcing French brands that contribute to our country's economic vitality to pay a single euro," said rapporteur Sylvie Valente Le Hir, a member of the right-wing The Republicans party. The bill will impose stricter sanctions on fast-fashion companies by scoring their "environmental communication," Pannier-Runacher said. This "eco-score" will apply to all fast-fashion companies. Companies that receive the lowest scores will face government-imposed taxes of up to €5 per product in 2025, rising to €10 per product by 2030. This tax cannot exceed 50% of the product's original price. Advertisement ban The bill will also impose sanctions on influencers promoting fast fashion products and ban fast fashion advertisements. "The regulation of the fast fashion industry will only succeed through a collective effort, not by targeting a single actor," Shein spokesperson Quentin Ruffat told RTL radio on Monday. Ruffat warned that the law would introduce "a tax of €10 per sold item of clothing by 2030" and would "impact the purchasing power" of French consumers. Environmental organizations also voiced concerns that lawmakers could misinterpret the bill. "Debates may amount to an interesting framework that still lacks substance," said Green Senator Jacques Fernique. On Monday, the Textiles Industry Union (UIT) recognized the bill as "a first step" and expressed hope for its "rapid adoption ... even if the text does not entirely fit our expectations." with AFP
