Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced questions Tuesday from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., about President Donald Trump’s acceptance of a gift from Qatar – a nearly-$400 million aircraft that Trump says will replace Air Force One.
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“Is it your understanding that this luxury plane that Qatar has offered the president, and the president has announced he’s willing to accept, is a gift to the United States government?” asked Murphy in a Senate hearing. “Or is it a gift ultimately to the president himself that he can use in his library?”
WATCH: Asked about Qatar’s gift of luxury 747, Trump says ‘We give free things out, we’ll take one, too’
Rubio said Murphy would have to ask the Department of Defense, but the plane is either “a replacement or, at least, a temporary bridge plane” for the new Air Force One. The U.S. Air Force operates Air Force One, Rubio said.
“My understanding of it, basically, has been, from the very beginning, that this is a plane that was identified after talking to Boeing about what other planes around the world would fit the bill that are out there, that could be used now,” Rubio said.
Murphy asked about the status of the plane after Trump leaves office.
READ MORE: Will the new Air Force One be secure? Qatar’s gift to Trump raises questions
“I’m not involved at that level of it,” Rubio said. “What I’ve heard is that that plane will replace Air Force One, which is an Air Force plane.”
Murphy raised several topics with Rubio, including the plane, the Trump family’s cryptocurrency interests and the president’s recent trip to the Middle East, where the Trump family has business interests.
The president’s acceptance of the plane from Qatar has raised ethical questions and national security concerns among lawmakers and attorneys.
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