Trump's Qatar deals raise bipartisan concerns in US over support for Hamas

U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf last week caused a stir both in Israel and the United States, particularly after the announcement that the U.S. government would accept a luxury jet from Qatar to serve as the new Air Force One. 

The president’s focus on business deals – particularly with Qatar, a nation criticized for its support of terrorist groups like Hamas and its alleged ties to anti-Israel protests on numerous U.S. university campuses – also raised concerns. 

Trump received criticism from Democrats, including long-time opponents such as Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who has repeatedly condemned what he perceives as corruption within the Trump White House. 

Following the announcement of investment deals negotiated by Trump with Gulf states during his trip, Murphy stated he would seek to force a vote on resolutions he introduced to halt arms sales to both Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Murphy’s resolutions – co-sponsored by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) –  seek to block $1.9 billion in arms sales to Qatar and $1.6 billion in weapons sales to the UAE. 

Murphy argued that the $400 million Boeing jet offered by Qatar amounts to a form of bribery.

“This isn’t a gift out of the goodness of their hearts – it’s an illegal bribe that the president of the United States is champing at the bit to accept. That’s unconstitutional and not how we conduct foreign policy. Unless Qatar rescinds their offer of a ‘palace in the sky’ or Trump turns it down, I will move to block this arms sale,” he said in a statement. 

Murphy said he believes Trump’s Middle East trip was about his own enrichment, not creating a stable Middle East. 

“Let’s be clear why Donald Trump has chosen these three countries as his first major foreign trip,” Murphy told NPR’s Here and Now. “It’s not because they’re the three most important countries in the world. He’s going to these three countries because these are the three countries that are willing to pay him. They’re literally putting billions of dollars in his pockets. And in exchange, they are asking for national security concessions.” 

Murphy stated, “I have made it clear that on sales to these countries, where countries have made personal investments in Trump’s businesses, we should have a vote on the Senate floor.” 

But opposition is not just coming from Democrats. Even Republican Members of Congress have expressed their concerns.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), considered to be an ardent Trump supporter, said of the Qatari plane offer, “I’m not flying on a Qatari plane. They support Hamas. I don’t know how you make it safe.” 

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) severely criticized the acceptance of a gift from Qatar. 

“I trust Qatar like I trust a rest-stop bathroom,” Kennedy told Fox News. “If they want to be friendly, I want to be friendly back. But with those guys, you know, trust in God, but tie up your camel.” 

Scott also spoke at the recent Jerusalem Post Annual Conference in New York, where he further addressed his distrust of Qatar. 

When asked what he makes of Trump’s visit to Qatar, Scott answered, “I think, if you look at the Middle East, where Trump’s going to be, is he’s going to do everything he can to expand peace and build relationships, not just for America, but also for Israel.” 

“Now with Qatar, you know I don't trust them,” he continued. “I think it's despicable that they host Hamas leaders.” 

The senator claimed he would use his position on the House Committee on Armed Services to question why the U.S. has a military base in Qatar.

Scott also said he believes Trump will “do everything he can to make sure they pick the right side.” 

He continued, “They cannot continue to support Hamas, they cannot continue to support the bad guys, they can’t continue to host Hamas in their country.”