Congressional Democrats are seizing on President Trump’s plan to receive a $400 million luxury aircraft from Qatar, viewing it as both a potential breach of the Constitution and a powerful issue to win over disillusioned voters.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is spearheading the effort, announcing a hold on all Justice Department nominees awaiting Senate approval until the White House provides a full account of the deal and Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before Congress. Schumer stated on the Senate floor that this isn’t just blatant corruption, but something that would shock even Putin.
Schumer presented a list of questions and demands for the Trump Administration to address before he releases his hold on nominees, primarily focusing on the national security implications of the President accepting a customized Boeing 747-8 jet for use as Air Force One, and then transferring the aircraft to his presidential library. Schumer questioned whether the Qataris are providing a ready-to-use plane with pre-installed security measures, and if so, who installed them and how their proper installation is verified.
After their 2024 election loss, Democrats have been seeking a unifying issue. Many now believe this Qatar plane deal has more potential than Trump’s deportation policies or broad government spending cuts.
Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts told TIME that Trump is turning Air Force One into “Bribe Force One,” and that Congress must be involved due to the clear threat to national security.
The national security concerns stem from questions about Qatar’s allegiances. The Qatari government has historically provided financial aid to the Gaza Strip, supporting the Hamas government. In 2017, Trump himself accused Qatar of funding terrorism and supported a Saudi-led blockade against the country.
Democrats are wagering that voters, weary of Trump’s actions but uncertain about his limits, will see the jet deal as a clear instance of personal gain and compromised national interests. Last month, the Trump Organization finalized an agreement to develop a luxury golf resort in Qatar featuring Trump-branded villas and a course built by a Saudi firm—his first such foreign undertaking since returning to office.
Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York labeled the Qatari offer as “the most valuable ever conferred on a president by a foreign government,” describing the arrangement as a “flying grift.” In a letter to ethics officials, Torres called for an immediate ethics review and policy changes to prevent foreign gifts from becoming private assets for current or former presidents, stating that Air Force One will ironically have something in common with Hamas: funding from Qatar.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, who led Trump’s second impeachment after the Jan. 6 attack, plans to introduce a resolution requiring Trump to seek congressional approval for accepting the $400 million aircraft. Raskin intends to invoke Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution, which prohibits federal officials from accepting emoluments without congressional consent.
Even some Republicans have expressed concern about Trump’s plan. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas raised espionage risks, while Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia said she would be “checking for bugs.” Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley stated on social media that taking gifts from other countries is never a good practice.
However, others argued that the story isn’t gaining traction outside Washington.
Senator Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, stated that instead of objecting to everything President Trump does, Democrats should connect with the American people, who he believes don’t care about an airplane. He asserted that they care about their lives and the economy, and that President Trump is working to rebuild what has been destroyed in the past four years.
Democrats recognize that outrage alone might not sway public opinion in a political environment where Trump’s supporters often dismiss criticism as biased. But the Qatar jet controversy—with its blend of constitutional questions, luxury, and international intrigue—could serve as a powerful symbol of what Democrats consider an ongoing assault on American norms.
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia told TIME that the President is not allowed to accept flying palaces from foreign princes, and that he obviously cannot accept this gift.
