U.S.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky says President Donald Trump should not accept Qatar's gift of a $400 million airplane.

Senator Paul appeared last night on the Fox News Channel.

Qatar, a country in the Middle East bordering Saudi Arabia, wants to give the president a jumbo jet to be used as a new Air Force One.

President Trump says it would be stupid not to accept it.

He said, declining it would be like a golfer not accepting when a competitor concedes a putt.

It's a little bit different than a give me button.

And the Constitution in article two talks about the president can't take emoluments or gifts from foreign leaders.

And so there is a provision in the Constitution says you can't do this.

And so the question is, can you do it if it's only for official purposes?

If it came to someone in Congress, they can vote and the ethics committee can look at it with his.

There will have to be some kind of adjudication.

This has never been done.

And it's not like a ride on the plane.

We're talking about the entire $400 million plan.

I think it's not worth the appearance of impropriety, whether it's improper or not.

I don't think it's worth it.

The other problem with Qatar is the.

I've spent time trying not to sell weapons to Qatar because they have human rights violations of their people.

Many of their people are prevented from participating.

The government and some of the minority religious folks in Qatar are treated poorly.

And so I really haven't been a big fan, and I wonder if our ability to judge their human rights record would be clouded by the fact that this large gift.

So I wouldn't take it.

That's just me.

I don't think it's a good idea.

Cutter does give it to him and he says, hey, Iran, you want to hop on the jet down to Palm Beach?

You'll say, no.

Yeah.

I've always wanted to ride on the Emirati jet.

You know, where you have a shower and a bathtub and all that stuff do at a bar and a dance floor.

But I've never been able to fork over the 20 grand, I think, each way.

So I probably won't be riding on it.

But no, I think it's a mistake.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York calls the gift, quote, naked corruption.

He also says it's a grave national security threat to use in Air Force One.

Build in another country.

Schumer says he will block new nominee to the Department of Justice until this is properly investigated.