May 13, 2025
Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Booker, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Ossoff, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Warner, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Peters, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Ms. Slotkin, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr. Kim, and Mr. Kelly) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Condemning any acceptance of Presidential aircraft, or any other substantial gift, from a foreign government.
Whereas the aircraft commonly referred to as Air Force One
is a symbol of the United States;
Whereas Air Force One is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Office of the President of the United States;
Whereas Air Force One is equipped with some of the most sensitive technologies designed to transmit some of the most highly classified national security information of the United States;
Whereas the acceptance of Presidential aircraft from a foreign government—
(1)
constitutes a substantial gift; and
(2)
poses counter-intelligence and other national security concerns;
Whereas the acceptance of a substantial gift from a foreign government could unduly influence the foreign policies of the United States;
Whereas the acceptance of Presidential aircraft from a foreign government would establish a concerning precedent for the acceptance of substantial gifts from foreign governments without the consent of Congress;
Whereas the Foreign Emoluments Clause contained in clause 8 of section 9 of article I of the Constitution of the United States states 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 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
That the Senate—
(1)
condemns any acceptance of a Presidential aircraft, or any other substantial gift, from a foreign government as a grave national security threat to the Office of the President;
(2)
demands that any such gift may only be accepted by the President with the explicit consent of Congress;
(3)
urges the executive branch to reject compromising the national security of the United States by operating an aircraft not built under the security specifications or supervision of the Department of Defense as Air Force One; and
(4)
condemns any acceptance of a Presidential aircraft, or any other substantial gift, from a foreign government if such acceptance violates any law.