The Republicans were in Capitol Hill on Monday night while dodging or laughed at the exclusive ABC News reports that President Donald Trump was considering accepting a luxury plane as a gift from the Qatar government to potentially use as Air Force One.
While several senators avoided questions or asked jokes, few were willing to give a complete defense of the proposed gift.
Like most Republicans, Senator Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., Initially said he didn’t know enough about history to comment, but called him “an interesting one.”
When ABC News told him that Trump intended to use the plane endowed as Air Force One, he laughed. “Could you make me consider the suitability of that? Yes,” he said.
When asked if he had security concerns about his use as Air Force One, he broke out and said: “Well, it is better to sweep that plane from front to back.”
President Donald Trump’s caravan is parked next to a Boeing 747-8, owned by Qatar, 12 years old, which Trump was on tour in West Palm Beach, Florida, on February 15, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters, file
Senator Josh Hawley, R-MO., Made an ironic comment when asked about security concerns.
“Well, I think it would be better if it were a big and beautiful plane made in the United States of America,” he said.
The majority leader, John Thune, said he needed more information about the reports before being able to make an appropriate evaluation. “I still don’t know enough and I don’t know if it is, I don’t know if there is, any offer. I am sure that if we have more information, we will solve it,” Thune said.
The president of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, refused to comment, saying that he did not have enough information. “I’m not going to comment,” said Johnson, added: “I have not seen all the details about it.”
When asked about the potential gift price, an estimated $ 400 million, Senator John Kennedy, republican of La-La., Spuso the theme.
“I think we should follow the law, whatever it is,” he said. “Well, France gave us the statue of freedom,” Kennedy told journalists.
