Fact-Check: Chris Murphy's Claim on the Qatari Jet
What We Know
On July 31, 2025, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) introduced an amendment to the FY26 Defense Appropriations bill aimed at preventing the luxury jet gifted to former President Donald Trump by the Qatari government from being transferred to him after he leaves office. Murphy stated that this amendment was not about refusing the acceptance of the jet but specifically aimed to prohibit Trump from taking it with him once he leaves office, especially after taxpayers are expected to spend approximately $1 billion to retrofit the aircraft for use as a temporary Air Force One (Murphy's official statement).
Murphy's amendment was ultimately rejected by Senate Republicans, who voted 14-15 against it. He later confirmed on social media that every Republican member of the committee voted to allow Trump to keep the jet (Murphy's tweet). The context of this situation includes the fact that the Pentagon had accepted the jet as an "unconditional donation" from Qatar, which was met with significant backlash due to the costs associated with retrofitting it (ABC News).
Analysis
The claim made by Chris Murphy that he offered an amendment to prevent Trump from taking the Qatari jet after his presidency is substantiated by multiple sources. The official press release from Murphy confirms the introduction of the amendment and its intent (Murphy's official statement). Additionally, reports from various news outlets, including The Hill and Mediaite, corroborate the details of the amendment and the subsequent vote, indicating that it was indeed aimed at blocking the transfer of the jet to Trump.
The reliability of these sources is generally high, as they are established news organizations and official statements from a sitting U.S. senator. However, it is important to note that the reporting may carry some political bias, particularly from outlets that have a history of framing issues in a way that aligns with their editorial slant. For instance, the framing of the Republicans' vote against the amendment may reflect a partisan perspective, as the issue is inherently political.
Moreover, the context surrounding the acceptance of the jet and the associated costs has been widely reported, with estimates of nearly $1 billion for retrofitting (Yahoo News). This figure has been consistently referenced across multiple articles, lending further credibility to Murphy's claim about taxpayer costs.
Conclusion
The claim made by Chris Murphy regarding his amendment to prevent Trump from taking the Qatari jet after his presidency is True. The evidence from official statements and multiple news reports confirms that Murphy did indeed propose such an amendment, which was subsequently voted down by Senate Republicans. The context of the situation, including the substantial taxpayer costs associated with retrofitting the jet, further supports the validity of Murphy's statements.
Sources
- Murphy Introduces Amendment to Prevent Transfer of Gifted Qatari Jet to Trump After His Presidency Ends
- Chris Murphy on X
- Senate Republicans Vote To Let Trump Keep Qatar Jet After
- Republicans reject Democrats' amendment to block Trump
- Republicans Vote to Let Trump Keep Qatari Plane After Term
- US accepts 'unconditional donation' of Qatari jet
- Senate Republicans Vote To Let Trump Keep Qatar Jet After
- Senate Republicans Vote To Let Trump Keep Air Force One When