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
Euronews
29 minutes ago
- Euronews
Uzbekistan and Hungary agreed to form an enhanced strategic partnership
The US Senate has confirmed Charles Kushner, the father of President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. The 70-year-old real estate developer, who received a presidential pardon from Trump in December 2020 over convictions for witness tampering and tax evasion, was confirmed by a 51-45 vote in the Senate on Monday. When Trump announced his desire to nominate Kushner in November, the US president called him "a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, and dealmaker." Kushner's son Jared is a former White House adviser who is married to Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka. At his confirmation hearing on 1 May before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kushner was asked about his criminal past. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison after pleading guilty to 18 counts. "My misjudgement and mistake was over 20 years ago," Kushner told the hearing. "Since then, I've been pardoned by President Trump. But I don't sit here before you today and tell you I'm a perfect person. I am not a perfect person. I made a very very very serious mistake, and I paid a very heavy price for that mistake," he added. Former New Jersey governor and Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie — who brought the charges against Kushner when he was a US attorney in the early 2000s — said his case was "one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes" he ever prosecuted. Kushner will go to France as the relationship between the two traditional allies, and between Washington and the rest of Europe, has been strained over Trump's trade policies and the US position on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At his confirmation hearing, Kushner said he would work closely with France to "bring greater balance to our important economic relationship" and also encourage France to "invest more in its defence capabilities, as well as lead the EU to align with the US vision of increased European commitments to security." It is unclear how Kushner's appointment will be received in France. After Trump announced his nomination in November, Gérard Araud, a former French ambassador to the US, was among several people to express scepticism or criticism over the decision. "Needless to say, he has no knowledge of our country. At least he will have access to the president. We console ourselves as best we can," Araud wrote in a post on X. Senator Cory Booker, who represents Kushner's home state of New Jersey, was the lone Democrat to vote in favour on Monday. One Republican, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voted against it. Uzbekistan and Hungary have agreed to form an enhanced strategic partnership. The treaty was signed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Tuesday afternoon in Budapest. The two countries have also concluded agreements at ministerial level: an extradition treaty, a treaty on cooperation in disaster management and one on climate protection, and an agreement on Hungary's participation in the construction of nuclear power plants in Uzbekistan. The Central Asian country has sent a large delegation to Budapest, with the President, four ministers and several businessmen visiting the Hungarian capital. On Tuesday morning, members of the delegation held talks with Minister of National Economy Márton Nagy and Hungarian businessmen on cooperation opportunities. 'One of the very developed areas in Hungary is fishery, and we have a huge opportunity in Uzbekistan. In the past few years, we brought Hungarian companies and Hungarian genotypes of fish, but in this visit, we are developing with Hungarian companies a new program to establish more extensive and intensive projects" - the minister of agriculture of Uzbekistan, Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov told Euronews. The Uzbek head of state, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also held talks with the Hungarian speaker of the Parliament. At the meeting, László Kövér said that they would like to extend the strategic partnership to closer cooperation between the two parliaments. A group of 68 immigrants from Honduras and Colombia returned to their countries of origin on Monday from Texas as part of a new initiative by the Trump administration. The programme promotes the departure of people in an irregular migratory situation in what the Trump administration is calling "voluntary deportations." In early May, the US government offered a payment of $1,000 (€889) to undocumented migrants who made the choice to leave the country voluntarily. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on Monday that the first departure flight marks the beginning of the so-called "Project Homecoming" plan. According to Noem, the action is not part of the usual Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, but a voluntary and assisted process. In a post on his X account, Noem said, "If you are in this country illegally, deport yourself NOW and preserve your opportunity to potentially return the legal and correct way." "If you don't, you will be subject to fines, arrest, deportation and never be allowed to return," she added. Participants in the programme used a CBP Home application to formalise their departure and received the money promised to support their return. Upon arrival in both Honduras and Colombia, migrants were met with local assistance. The Hondurans were also included in the 'Hermano, Hermana, Vuelve a Casa' programme, which provides a $100 voucher (€89) for adults, including food aid and job orientation. Colombian returnees were assisted by the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare (ICBF) and the Department for Social Prosperity (DPS) — agencies in charge of facilitating social and economic reintegration. The programme is part of the new immigration policies promoted by Donald Trump since the start of his second term in office in January, with the aim of reducing irregular immigration in the country. His offer to allow migrants to depart voluntarily has been matched with highly-publicised detentions in the US and flying a couple hundred of Venezuelan migrants to a maximum security prison in El Salvador.
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
LA Protests: 'It is purposeful for Trump to portray this as chaos on the streets of a Democratic city'
Hundreds of Marines were due to arrive in Los Angeles on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump ordered their deployment in response to protests against immigration arrests and despite objections by state officials. The 700 crack troops will join National Guard soldiers, amping up the militarization of the tense situation in the sprawling city, which is home to millions of foreign-born and Latino residents. The largely peaceful demonstrations -- marred by sporadic but violent clashes between police and protesters -- were entering their fifth day. The unrest was sparked by a sudden intensification of Trump's signature campaign to deport illegal migrants, with raids conducted on workplaces. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24's Delano D'Souza welcomes welcomes Dr. Christopher Featherstone, Associate Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations at University of York.
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
EU proposes lowering Russia oil price cap in new sanctions
The move comes ahead of a G7 summit in Canada next week where allies will push US President Donald Trump to be more aggressive in punishing the Kremlin. "We are ramping up pressure on Russia, because strength is the only language that Russia will understand," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. "Our message is very clear, this war must end. We need a real ceasefire, and Russia has to come to the negotiating table with a serious proposal." The European Commission, the EU's executive, suggested cutting the current oil price cap from $60 to $45 as Moscow drags its feet on a ceasefire in Ukraine. The cap is a G7 initiative aimed at limiting the amount of money Russia makes by exporting oil to countries across the world. Set at $60 by the G7 in 2022, it is designed to limit the price Moscow can sell oil around the world by banning shipping firms and insurance companies dealing with Russia to export above that amount. To have most impact the EU and other G7 partners need to get the United States to follow suit and agree to the cut in level. But Trump so far has frustrated Western allies by refusing to impose sanctions on Russia despite President Vladimir Putin's failure to agree a Ukraine ceasefire. "My assumption is that we do that together as G7," von der Leyen said. "We have started that as G7, it was successful as a measure from the G7, and I want to continue this measure as G7." 'Massive' sanctions threatened Trump last week said he had a deadline to sanction Russia "in my brain", but warned that he may also target Kyiv if no advances are made in his peace push. European leaders in May threatened Moscow with "massive" sanctions if it did not agree a truce. "Russia lies about its desire for peace. Putin is taking the world for a ride. Together with the United States, we can really force Putin to negotiate seriously," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. As part of its 18th round of sanctions since Russia's 2022 invasion, the EU also proposed measures to stop the defunct Baltic Sea gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 from being brought back online. Officials said they would also look to target some 70 more vessels in the "shadow fleet" of ageing tankers used by Russia to circumvent oil export curbs. The EU in addition is looking to sever ties with a further 22 Russian banks and add more companies, including in China, to a blacklist of those helping Moscow's military. One EU diplomat described the latest proposals as "one of the most substantive and significant packages we've discussed recently". "It will hurt Russia's ability to finance its war machine. Now let's see how the discussions evolve." The sanctions will need to be agreed by all 27 EU countries, and could face opposition from Moscow-friendly countries Hungary and Slovakia.
