Left: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks during a press conference in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Room at the U.S. Capitol on May 05, 2025 in Washington, DC; Right: U.S. President Donald Trump departs the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Left: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images; Right: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House to request comment on Tuesday morning but did not immediately receive a response.
"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, according to a press release.
"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. It is now on the Senate to prioritize our national security, protect Americans, and ensure that a foreign-owned plane never gets the call sign ‘Air Force One.’"
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The proposal stands little chance of passage: Even if it were to clear both chambers of Congress where Republicans hold the majorities, the president could veto the measure, in which case passage would require enough votes to surmount a presidential veto.
"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," President Trump declared in a Truth Social post last week.
QATAR OFFERS TRUMP JUMBO JET TO SERVE AS AIR FORCE ONE
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"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. 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.
Trump indicated last week that he does not plan to fly in the plane after leaving office, but that the aircraft would be placed in his presidential library.
Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/schumer-fields-bill-bid-scuttle-trumps-qatar-plane-plans