Lindsey Graham Wants to Make Sure Trump's Qatar Plane Deal 'Is Kosher'
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Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina is calling for a closer look into reports that President Donald Trump may accept a luxury jumbo jet from Qatar.
"Air Force One is the symbol of America," Senator Graham told reporters Monday. "When it lands or flies, it is America flying or landing, and I want to make sure this whole thing is kosher. Time will tell."
Newsweek reached out to Senator Graham's office for further comment Monday afternoon via email.
Why It Matters
Qatar's offer of a $400 million aircraft to the President of the United States has prompted backlash across the political spectrum.
Critics have raised alarms over a foreign government providing such an extravagant gift, especially one from a regime that has faced criticism for its human rights record and relationships with controversial entities in the Middle East.
Some conservative commentators have framed the situation as a potential influence-buying tactic by Qatar.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., talks with reporters after the senate luncheons in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., talks with reporters after the senate luncheons in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images
What To Know
The proposed aircraft, which would be used in place of Air Force One, reportedly includes a gold-plated interior and advanced communications systems. The jet, which had originally been customized for the emir but remained unused, was repurposed for U.S. presidential use in what Qatar said was a gesture of international cooperation.
Multiple reports state that when Trump leaves office, the Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet will be transferred to his own presidential library foundation, creating the potential for his continued personal use. Trump has said he does not plan to use it.
The president is facing increasing scrutiny over the gift, including furious backlash from Democrats, but also questions from Republicans and his own MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters.
Graham said on Monday he wants to ensure the arrangement meets all legal standards and avoids potential conflicts, emphasizing the need to ensure the deal "is kosher."
Laura Loomer, one of Trump's staunchest allies, told Politico the announcement was "concerning."
"If the initial reports are factual, I think it's concerning. Qatar is not our friend," she said.
Trump has dismissed concerns over the plane, calling critics "losers" and framing the jet as a future replacement for aging Air Force One aircraft.
During a Monday White House event, Trump told reporters, "I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane,'" Trump said. "But I thought it was a great gesture."
Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar's Media Attaché to the U.S., told Newsweek on Sunday that the gift reports are "inaccurate" and said that the move is currently under review by both country's legal departments.
The aircraft remains parked in Basel, Switzerland, where it was being retrofitted. U.S. officials have not confirmed whether the jet will be incorporated into the existing presidential fleet.
Is It Legal?
White House lawyers and the Department of Justice have reportedly advised the Trump administration that the deal is legal.
However, critics and ethics experts warn that the unprecedented foreign gift amounts to foreign influence and may require congressional approval under the Emoluments Clause.
Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, a progressive consumer rights advocacy group, said in a statement to Newsweek that the move was "blatantly unconstitutional."
"A textbook violation of the emoluments clause," he said. "The concern with foreign gifts is that they can sway a president's policy and predilections—and there's little doubt that Qatar wants to gift Trump a 'palace in the sky' for exactly that reason...Even in a presidency defined by grift, this move is shocking. It makes clear that US foreign policy under Donald Trump is up for sale."
House Democrats are already calling for an ethics probe into the matter, citing potential violations of federal ethics laws.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump responded to criticism on Truth Social: "So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA."
Democratic California Senator Adam Schiff, on X: "The president considers it a great imposition to ride on Air Force One. Poor thing. It lacks the amenities of an 'air palace.' He says he'd be 'stupid' to turn it down, which is how he views abiding by the Constitution."
Democratic Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, on X: "Whether he's accepting a luxury plane from Qatar or auctioning off access to the White House through his family's crypto schemes, Trump is making clear that he's willing to sell his presidency for personal gain to the highest bidder. Kleptocracy in action."
What Happens Next
Trump is preparing to visit Qatar on Tuesday for the first major foreign trip of his second term. However, the jet will not be gifted to him during that trip, Al-Ansari, Qatar's media attaché, has confirmed.
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