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The lawmakers introduced resolutions as anger erupted over a series of deals involving the president, businesses linked to his family and several countries.
May 16, 2025, 3:43 p.m. ET
Congressional Democrats are seeking to block more than $3 billion in proposed weapons sales to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates that were announced during President Trump’s visit to the Middle East this week.
The Democrats are targeting a $1.9 billion sale to Qatar and $1.6 billion to the Emirates. The packages include Chinook helicopters, armed drones, hundreds of bombs, targeting kits, F-16 aircraft components and other military equipment.
The State Department approved the proposed sales and formally notified Congress shortly before Mr. Trump’s trip. However, for the sale to the Emirates, the administration bypassed an informal review period that allows senior lawmakers on foreign affairs committees to raise concerns or negotiate changes before full congressional notification.
Leading the opposition is Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, who on Thursday introduced resolutions aimed at blocking the arms sales to both countries.
Mr. Murphy questioned the sale to Qatar in light of reports that the country had offered Mr. Trump a $400 million luxury Boeing jet as a gift.
“Unless Qatar rescinds their offer of a ‘palace in the sky’ or Trump turns it down, I will move to block this arms sale,” Mr. Murphy said in a statement. He also pointed to a $5.5 billion real estate and golf course deal involving the Trump family and a firm affiliated with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. The project would involve a Trump-branded beachside golf course and luxury villa project in the country.
