Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma has claimed that the Biden administration, rather than the Trump administration, initiated negotiations for the controversial $400 million Air Force One replacement gifted by Qatar. This assertion comes amid ongoing political debates over the legitimacy and ethical implications of such a gift. Mullin stated that the discussions began under the Biden administration and highlighted the necessity of a backup plane for Air Force One due to its age and the retirement of the previous backup due to structural issues. The controversy has sparked calls for an ethics probe by House Democrats, with some accusing the administration of corrupt intent. In response, Trump has denied any personal benefit and emphasized that the plane was a gift to the U.S. government for temporary use. Qatar’s Prime Minister has also dismissed the accusations, asserting that the country had originally purchased the plane from Boeing. The debate surrounding the gift has drawn comparisons to previous instances of receiving foreign gifts, such as the Statue of Liberty and a memorial from Russia.