On Thursday, Senator Susan Collins expressed the mounting dissatisfaction among Congressional Republicans regarding President Donald Trump’s proposal to accept a $400 million jet from the Qatari royal family, which is intended to be modified for use as Air Force One.
“This transaction appears to be fraught with issues related to political espionage, ethics, and constitutional matters,” Collins remarked in an interview with NBC News.
She elaborated that the aircraft would require extensive cleaning to ensure that no surveillance devices had been secretly installed. “This process could be very time-consuming, as we must ensure that it adheres to the security standards requisite for the president,” she cautioned.
Collins voiced her bewilderment over the pursuit of this aircraft as a solution for the new presidential plane need, questioning, “Why would we want to go down this path?”
The senator acknowledged Trump’s “frustration” with Boeing’s slow production of a new presidential aircraft but emphasized that accepting a gifted jet is not a viable alternative.
When asked about the possibility of Congress voting on the legality of the gift, Collins noted that she was unaware of any plans to do so.
The decision to accept this gift has ignited significant controversy surrounding the legality, ethical implications, and national security concerns tied to what could potentially be the largest foreign gift ever received by the U.S. government.
Trump stated that the plane would be formally conveyed to the U.S. Department of Defense and subsequently transferred to his presidential library foundation at the conclusion of his second term, thereby ensuring he does not personally own the jet.
On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a hold on Trump’s nominees for political appointments at the Department of Justice to express his opposition to the jet’s acceptance, branding it a “grave national security threat.”
Earlier in the week, Republican Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin described the gift as “a very odd offer,” while Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky expressed his hope that the president would ultimately decline it during a Finance Newso News interview.
Collins also raised concerns regarding the timeline and the necessity of obtaining a new Air Force One, especially given that it may not be fully retrofitted by the end of Trump’s term. “This situation is quite complex,” she added.
