Every Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to allow Donald Trump to keep the Qatari jet when he leaves office, despite taxpayers footing the bill to retrofit the luxury plane.
Earlier this year, ABC News reported that Trump will accept the super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar which he will reportedly use as a temporary Air Force One while the current Air Force One undergoes some upgrades.
At the end of his presidency and after an estimated $1 billion taxpayer-funded upgrade, the plane’s ownership will be transferred to Trump’s presidential library foundation, which would still leave it under Trump’s control.
On Thursday, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced an amendment in the Appropriations Committee to block the transfer of the plane to Trump after his presidency.
The amendment failed on a 14-15 vote with every Republican on the committee opposing the amendment thus allowing Trump to keep the plane after leaving office.
“I offered the amendment. Not to refuse acceptance of the Qatari jet; just to prohibit Trump from taking it with him when he leaves office – after the taxpayers spend $1 billion to retrofit it,” Murphy wrote on X.
“Failed 14-15. Every single Republican voted to allow Trump to take the jet,” he added.
