Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Announcing New Legislation To Prohibit Any Foreign Aircraft From Being Used As Air Force One To Avoid The Catastrophic & Unimaginable National Security Risks

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor to announce his new legislation that would prohibit a foreign aircraft from being used as Air Force One by barring the Department of Defense from using any funds to procure or modify foreign aircraft for presidential flights, following the news that President Trump would accept a plane from Qatar for presidential use. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Last week, Donald Trump concluded a visit to the Middle East that was a smashing success for his own bottom line, but a dubious outcome for America’s economic and security interest.

Donald Trump confirmed that he would accept a $400 million luxury Boeing 747 plane offered by Qatar to use as Air Force One – the largest foreign bribe to an American president in modern history.

So today, I am introducing the Presidential Airlift Security Act, prohibiting the use of any foreign plane to be utilized as Air Force One.

Senate Republicans who say they’re troubled by this Qatari gift should join me in supporting this very commonsense legislation.

It should not take an act of Congress to stop the President of the United States from accepting the largest foreign bribe in modern history. But we are dealing with a president who has shown he’s perfectly willing to sell out the American people and the presidency to fill his own pockets.

Specifically, my legislation would prohibit even a single taxpayer dollar from being used by the Department of Defense to procure, modify, or retrofit any foreign aircraft to be used in transporting a U.S. President.

For one, overhauling a foreign luxury plane to serve as Air Force One would cost billions of taxpayer dollars. The refurbishing alone would cost more than the value of the plane itself. And it would take years. It is a senseless waste of taxpayer resources.

Using a foreign plane as Air Force One would also bring unimaginable national security risks. National security experts from one end of the country to the other agree: no matter how many modifications are made, or how much is spent, or how intensely it is retrofitted, there will never be 100% confidence that the plane is secure. This is not a gamble anyone should be willing to take.

It makes no practical sense for Donald Trump to accept this luxury gift when other alternatives in the works are less risky and less costly for taxpayers. This gift reeks of corruption and naked self-enrichment – reeks of corruption and naked self-enrichment – and Republicans should stand up and support our bill, defend national security, and protect Americans.

In the meantime, I will continue my hold on all political Department of Justice nominees until we get more answers about this clearly unethical deal.

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