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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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Some Republicans are expressing their disagreement with President Donald Trump's decision to accept a luxury plane as a gift from Qatar's royal family.
Qatari officials said the plane was being given by the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon but Trump said the Boeing 747-8 jet will be used as Air Force One—the official presidential plane and according to multiple reports, after he leaves office, it will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation.
Why It Matters
The $400 million gift has drawn legal and ethical scrutiny, with critics arguing that it could violate constitutional gift rules and that it could amount to foreign influence.
Read More on Politics
Members of Trump's own party joining the calls to reject the plane shows the extent to which the matter is controversial and is not mere partisanship. Trump may reconsider accepting it in order to maintain party unity.
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What To Know
Some Republicans and MAGA figures have expressed concerns about the deal.
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.
"Air Force One is the symbol of America," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters on 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."
Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott said he would not fly a Qatari plane. "They support Hamas," the Trump supporter told The Hill. "I don't know how you would make it safe."
Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley said "it would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America."
Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul told a report that Trump should not accept it. "I don't think it looks good or smells good," Punchbowl News reported him saying.
And Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins, who is a top target for Democrats in the 2026 midterms, said the gift "raises questions of whether the administration would be in compliance with the gift law."
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."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump's administration is committed to full transparency."
What Happens Next
Qatari media attaché Ali Al-Ansari said the transfer remains "under consideration" and that "no decision has been made," according to ABC News.
Meanwhile, Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates during his trip to the Middle East this week. He is scheduled to depart the U.S. on Monday and return on May 16.
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