[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 244 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 244
Affirming that the underlying purpose of the Foreign Emoluments Clause
renders the acceptance and transfer of a plane from the Government of
Qatar, without the explicit consent of Congress, an illegal emolument,
withholding the consent of the Senate to the acceptance and transfer of
plane from the Government of Qatar, and demanding the transfer of any
plane received by President Donald J. Trump or entities under his
control from the Government of Qatar to the permanent control of the
United States Government.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 21, 2025
Mr. Blumenthal submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Affirming that the underlying purpose of the Foreign Emoluments Clause
renders the acceptance and transfer of a plane from the Government of
Qatar, without the explicit consent of Congress, an illegal emolument,
withholding the consent of the Senate to the acceptance and transfer of
plane from the Government of Qatar, and demanding the transfer of any
plane received by President Donald J. Trump or entities under his
control from the Government of Qatar to the permanent control of the
United States Government.
Whereas President Donald J. Trump reportedly plans to--
(1) accept a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the Government of Qatar for
United States Government use as Air Force One during the Trump
Administration; and
(2) transfer that plane nominally to the Donald J. Trump Presidential
Library shortly before the expiration of the term of office of President
Trump but continue personal use of the plane after the Presidency of
President Trump;
Whereas the estimated value of the plane is $400,000,000, making the plane one
of the biggest gifts to the United States from a foreign government, if
accepted;
Whereas Air Force One is equipped with advanced, specialized communications
technologies, so that Air Force One may transmit highly classified
national security information and serve as a mobile command center in
the event of an attack on the United States;
Whereas accepting a plane from a foreign government poses counterintelligence
and other national security concerns, such as the insertion of listening
devices on the plane;
Whereas ensuring the plane is free from all security risks, including listening
devices, could require stripping the plane down to its parts;
Whereas retrofitting the Qatari plane to serve as Air Force One also requires
the installation of multiple top-secret systems that enable secure
Government communications, midair refueling, and missile defense and
that protect against electronic jamming and electromagnetic pulse
attacks;
Whereas such a process could cost taxpayers more than $1,000,000,000 and take
years to complete;
Whereas the only means of speeding up such work requires relaxing current Air
Force One security rules;
Whereas, even if such work is sped up, the Qatari plane may only be ready near
the end of the term of office of President Trump, at which time the
plane will be turned over to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library;
Whereas all fees related to the transfer of the plane to the Donald J. Trump
Presidential Library reportedly will be paid by the United States Air
Force, rather than by President Trump himself;
Whereas the acceptance of a substantial gift from a foreign government could
unduly influence the foreign policies of the United States;
Whereas the Foreign Emoluments Clause contained in clause 8 of section 9 of
article I of the Constitution of the United States provides that no
present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind, may be accepted by
the President of the United States from a king, prince, or foreign state
without the consent of Congress;
Whereas the Founders included the Foreign Emoluments Clause in the Constitution
of the United States, by unanimous agreement of the State delegations,
to ensure the President would remain loyal to the Nation and the public
interest;
Whereas the Foreign Emoluments Clause has long been understood to be ```directed
against every kind of influence by foreign governments upon officers of
the United States,' in the absence of consent by Congress'';
Whereas the President of the United States has a constitutional and statutory
obligation to uphold the public trust; and
Whereas the violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution of
the United States undermines public trust and the integrity of public
office in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) affirms that the underlying purpose of the Foreign
Emoluments Clause of the Constitution of the United States
renders the acceptance and transfer of a plane from the
Government of Qatar, without the explicit consent of Congress,
an illegal emolument, regardless of the legal technicalities of
ownership;
(2) withholds the consent of the Senate to the acceptance
and transfer of any plane from the Government of Qatar, as such
acceptance and transfer poses unacceptable potential costs to
taxpayers in the United States as well as grave risks to
national security and of foreign corruption; and
(3) demands the transfer of any plane received by President
Donald J. Trump or entities under the control of President
Trump from the Government of Qatar, in violation of the Foreign
Emoluments Clause contained in clause 8 of section 9 of article
I of the Constitution of the United States, to the permanent
control of the United States Government.
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