Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President Donald Trump speak to each other at the Royal Palace in Doha May 14, 2025. Trump, right, touched down at Hamad International Airport in Doha. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
"I need to find out from the administration what exactly is going on," Ernst added.
TRUMP DEFENDS QATAR JUMBO JET OFFER AS TROUBLED BOEING FAILS TO DELIVER NEW AIR FORCE ONE FLEET
Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine, Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Eric Schmitt of Missouri also admitted they don't know the details of the deal.
However, Collins, a Republican with a willingness to buck the party on certain issues, seemed to align more with Democrats' reaction to the gift, saying she suspected there could be issues within the GIFT Act, which prohibits federal employees from accepting gifts from foreign governments.
Democrats have pointed to the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution as proof the Qatari gift is "unconstitutional." The emoluments clause states that no elected official should accept a gift from a foreign country without consent from Congress.
"My concern is his safety," Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla, told Fox News Digital. "Qatar supports Hamas. The Hamas leaders live in Qatar, so my concern is the safety of the president. How are we going to know that the plane is safe?"
A Qatari Boeing 747, right, sits on the tarmac of Palm Beach International airport after Trump toured the aircraft Feb. 15, 2025. (Getty Images)
On Wednesday morning, Trump signed a series of agreements with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, which included a Qatari purchasing agreement for 160 American Boeing planes, defense agreements and a declaration of cooperation between the countries.
Trump defended his decision to accept the Qatari jet Tuesday, saying it would be "stupid" not to and emphasizing that he accepted it on behalf of the U.S. government, not himself.
"The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME! It is a gift from a Nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years. It will be used by our Government as a temporary Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeings, which are very late on delivery, arrive. Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done," Trump said on Truth Social Tuesday.
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"This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump added.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment about plans to discuss the deal with Congress.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-say-theyre-out-loop-trumps-400m-qatari-plane-deal