‘Espionage’ Concerns Surround Qatar’s Plans To Gift Trump Jet

Topline Some Republicans called for congressional oversight of Qatar’s reported plans to give President Donald Trump a luxury jet, while House Democrats on two key committees announced probes into the matter—as Trump is set to depart the Middle East Thursday without Qatar announcing any formal offer. President Donald Trump departs the Al Udeid Air Base for Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. ... More (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Key Facts Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, sharpened her previous criticism of Qatar’s plans, telling NBC the gift is “rife with legal, ethical and practical impediments, including the potential for espionage,” adding, “I’m not sure how we would be able to adequately inspect and outfit it to prevent” spying. Collins made the comments as Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Sen. Rob Wittman, R-Va., suggested Congress should have some oversight over any deal for Trump to acquire the plane: Wittman told Politico, “Congress needs to play a role” and Fischer told the outlet she wants “to look at the cost . . . and how that compares to just getting a new plane,” noting “obviously the next president is going to need a plane.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. also told the Wall Street Journal earlier this week there would be “plenty of scrutiny” surrounding the gift, while Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, raised concerns the plane could be outfitted with listening devices. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., also criticized the gift in statements to the Journal, while Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., were among those to raise concerns shortly after the expected gift was made public over the weekend. Democrats Launch Probes Into Qatar’s Plane Gift To Trump Judiciary Committee Democrats, in a Thursday letter to White House lawyer David Warrington and Attorney General Pam Bondi, asked for any written opinions or memorandums they may have issued regarding the gift and any communications between government officials regarding its legality. Oversight Committee ranking member Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., also wrote to Warrington seeking records of communications between government officials about the gift. Both letters warned that acceptance of the gift without congressional approval would defy the Foreign Emoluments Clause, which prohibits government officials from accepting gifts, titles or emoluments from foreign governments without congressional approval. Tangent The 747 jumbo jet the Qataris hope to gift Trump was put on the market in 2020 as the Qatari royal family has sought to offload some of its private jet fleet, Forbes previously reported. The one they hope to give Trump was put on the market in 2020 with only 1,069 hours of flying time. Qatar gave a similar 747-8 to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2018. Key Background Trump, while visiting Qatar Wednesday as part of a four-day trip to the Middle East, signed an agreement for investments between the two countries worth more than $243.5 billion, including a plan for the Qataris to buy $42 billion worth of defense weapons from the U.S. Qatari Airways also agreed during Trump’s visit to buy 210 jets from Boeing. Qatar did not formally offer Trump the $400 million jet, however. Trump has been defiant about his plans to accept the plane amid the criticism, insisting it would be a gift to the Department of Defense and donated to his presidential library after leaving office. Trump has said he would use the plane while Boeing is building two new Air Force Ones. Further Reading Qatar Airways Will Buy 210 Jets From Boeing — As Trump Awaits Qatar’s 747 Gift (Forbes) Why The Qataris Are Happy To Dump Their 747 On Trump (Forbes) Republicans Question Trump’s Plan To Accept Luxury Plane Gift From Qatar (Forbes) Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/05/15/trumps-qatari-plane-could-be-used-for-espionage-republicans-say-as-democrats-open-probes/