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

20/5/2025 6:15

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 current effort to build two new Air Force One planes exceeds $5 billion.