Democrats argue Trump must receive approval from Congress for new plane that could come from Qatar

Democratic lawmakers argued on Sunday that President Trump must first receive congressional approval for a new Boeing 747-8 plane that reportedly could come from the government of Qatar.

According to several reports, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a luxury plane gifted from Qatar that will be retrofitted for use as Air Force One. 

"Trump must seek Congress’ consent to take this $300 million gift from Qatar. The Constitution is perfectly clear: no present “of any kind whatever” from a foreign state without Congressional permission. A gift you use for four years and then deposit in your library is still a gift (and a grift)," Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote in a post on X.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., argued that accepting the plane would be unconstitutional.

"I don’t know who needs to hear this, but NO, Donald Trump cannot accept a $400 million flying palace from the royal family of Qatar. Not only is this farcically corrupt, it is blatantly unconstitutional," Sanders wrote.

Trump would reportedly use the new plane for Air Force One and it will later be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation after he leaves office.

NBC News noted that the Qatari government said some of the details in U.S. media reports about the expected transaction are "inaccurate" but they did not provide specifics. 

"The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made," said Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché to the U.S., according to NBC.