US Senate Democratic leader proposes ban on foreign Air Force One planes

Reuters ^ | May 19, 2025 3:53 PM CDT | Patricia Zengerle and Richard Cowan

[E. Pluribus Unum]

WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on Monday introduced a bill that would prevent any foreign aircraft from being used as Air Force One, the aircraft that transports the U.S. president.

Schumer introduced the "Presidential Airlift Security Act" after news last week that President Donald Trump planned to accept a $400 million airplane from Qatar, which legal experts said raised a raft of questions about the scope of laws that relate to gifts from foreign governments and are intended to thwart corruption and improper influence.

Retrofitting the luxury plane offered by Qatar's royal family would require security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent spies from listening in and equipment to fend off incoming missiles, experts said.

The costs were not known, but could be significant given that Boeing Co's(BA.N)

The bill introduced by the New York Democrat would prohibit the Department of Defense from using any funds to procure or modify foreign aircraft in order to serve as the president's air transportation.

he measure is unlikely to become law, given that Trump's Republicans hold majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives, which would both have to approve it and override a veto if Trump objected.

But it marked another effort by Democrats to oppose the plan. Schumer last week vowed to block all of Trump's nominees to the Justice Department until the agency reports what it knows about Qatar's offer.

Multiple congressional Republicans also raised concerns about Qatar's offer.

Trump said it would be "stupid" for him to refuse the offer.

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TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Schmuckey being Schmuckey.

[Salman]

A Boeing 747 made in USA. Not a foreign aircraft.

[Williams]

Yeah that’s Important.

[Paladin2]

Schumer needs to address the low height of the Brooklyn Bridge.

It’s a hazard to navigation.

[Texas Eagle]

Retrofitting the luxury plane offered by Qatar's royal family would require security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent spies from listening in...

Funny how demonicRATS didn't give a flying fig about Eric Swallowswell's mistress or Dianne Feinstein's chauffeur listening in.

[EnderWiggin1970]

Of course efforts should be made to ensure nothing has been surreptitiously modified or bugged or whatever. But this article leaves out the basic reason Qatar made this offer in the first place - our inability to source and build a new Air Force One in a timely and cost-efficient manner in the first place. That's the real embarassment, and the Democrats have nothing to offer on that front because they are part of the problem as they usually are.

[Gen.Blather]

I really am uncomfortable with the gift, but let’s talk about the two billion dollars the Clintons collected during their time.

[chopperk]

Surely the dems will send the Statue of Liberty back to France shortly.

[SkyDancer]

Have Clinton return his tricked out helicopter and Kerry’s plus bizjet they received.

[eyedigress]

This is all you got Chuck?

I guess the goods on you are available to the President as well.

Where’s Nanners?

[rightwingcrazy]

I’m pretty sure that’s racist, Chuck. And do remember to call them “undocumented aircraft”! Didn’t you get the memo?

[bantam]

This guy is a complete douche!
Trump says up, the self hating Jewish senator from NY says down!
Absolutely pathetic! Keep it up Chuckles,every rational person sees you for what you are, a loser!

[Vermont Lt]

Good thing the plane they gave Trump was a Boeing.

[volare737]

I am sure he would have done the same thing if Biden had been given the jet./s

[Da Coyote]

A DemocRAT will always do what he/she/it/they/whatever can be done to cost us money that needn’t have been spent. It’s what they do. They have no ability to do anything that produces positive results.

[chopperk]

Chuck will make the big time as a legislature if he can write and pass a bill like this. That would put him in the same league as Limpdick Durbin writing legislation forcing children to get a license to open a lemonade stand. America is blessed to have pols like them.

[ridesthemiles]

SCHUMER HAS A ROLLS ROYCE-—IT WAS A GIFT-—FIND OUT WHO FROM

[Da Coyote]

“Schumer needs to address the low height of the Brooklyn Bridge.”

Did not this two-digit IQ clown try to blame Trump for the crash - something about a maritime nav aid?

Guess the dork didn’t watch the video which showed the ship travelling backwards, driven by the current, with obviously no power to propel it away from the bridge.

Oh well, if one cannot do anything productive, there’s always a sure path to millions as a RAT politician.

[silverleaf]

It is a US manufactured Boeing aircraft.

What they should be worried about is the POTUS exercising strategic command and control from a 40+ yr old airframe while Boeing dithers another 3 years or more in delivering a replacement.

[M Kehoe]

Like Schumer, Reuters is about as useful as tits on a bull.

The gift was to the U. S. government, specifically the U. S. Air Force (DoD), not president Trump.

5.56mm