US President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticised Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, saying the top Democrat had “become a Palestinian” in a row over the White House’s plan to accept a $400 million (€357 million) aeroplane as a gift from Qatar.
Trump said on Monday that he wanted to accept the Boeing 747-8 jet, which would be used as an Air Force One replacement, and that it would be “stupid” to refuse the offer.
However, Schumer said on Tuesday that he would block all Trump administration nominations to the US Department of Justice on the Senate floor until he has more answers over the proposal. There are three such nominations currently awaiting confirmation.
The plan, Schumer said, “is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat”.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Wednesday during his four-day tour of the Middle East, Trump was scathing in his rebuke of Schumer.
“Schumer, you know, he’s become a Palestinian,” Trump said ahead of his arrival in Qatar.
“There’s something wrong with him,” he added. “You know, I’ve known him a long time and there’s something wrong. He’s lost his confidence, totally. There’s just something wrong. I don’t know what it is with Schumer.”
It marks the second time Trump has referred to Schumer — the most senior elected US Jewish official — as Palestinian. Trump was condemned in March by Muslim and Jewish advocacy groups, who said the US president used the word as a slur to attack Schumer.
Schumer said earlier this week that he wants answers from US Attorney General Pam Bondi and the White House about whether it is investigating activities inside the US by Qatari foreign agents that could benefit Trump or his business.
He said he also wants to know if Qatar will be responsible for adding security measures to the plane and how these will be built and paid for.
“The attorney general must testify before both the House and Senate to explain why gifting Donald Trump a private jet does not violate the emoluments clause (of the US Constitution), which requires congressional approval,” Schumer told the Senate.
Legal details ‘still being worked out’
The US Constitution prohibits federal officials from accepting things of value, or “emoluments,” from foreign governments without congressional approval.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that legal details were “still being worked out” but emphasised that “any donation to this government is always done in full compliance with the law”.
ADVEReadNOWISEMENTThe plane, which would be one of the most valuable gifts ever given to the US government, would later be donated to a presidential library, Trump has said.
In a post on his social media site Truth Social on Tuesday night, Trump said the plane “is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, not to me.”
“It is a gift from a nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years”.
ADVEReadNOWISEMENTDemocrats have voiced uniform outrage about the potential foreign gift, and many Republicans are also uneasy about the plan.
Republican senator Josh Hawley said he “it would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America”.
Even the Senate’s top Republican, John Thune, said there were “lots of issues associated with that offer, which I think need to be further talked about”.