Republicans dodge, laugh off questions about Trump's gift plane from Qatar

Republicans were connected Capitol Hill Monday nighttime arsenic they dodged oregon laughed disconnected ABC News' exclusive reporting that President Donald Trump was considering accepting a luxury pitchy arsenic a acquisition from the Qatari authorities to perchance usage arsenic Air Force One.

While respective senators avoided questions oregon made jokes, fewer were consenting to springiness a full-throated defence of the projected gift.

Like astir Republicans, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., initially said she didn't cognize capable astir the communicative to remark but called it "an absorbing one."

MORE: Trump medication poised to judge 'palace successful the sky' arsenic a acquisition for Trump from Qatar: Sources

When ABC News told her that Trump intended to usage the talented level arsenic Air Force One, she broke into laughter. "It mightiness marque maine see the appropriateness of that? Yes," she said.

Asked if she had information concerns astir its usage arsenic Air Force One, she broke retired laughing and said, "Well, they amended expanse that level from beforehand to back."

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., made a tongue-in-cheek remark of his ain erstwhile asked astir information concerns.

"Well, I deliberation it'd beryllium amended if it were a big, beauteous pitchy made successful the United States of America," helium said.

MORE: Trump defends Qatar jumbo pitchy offer, says it would beryllium 'stupid' to crook distant escaped plane

Majority Leader John Thune said helium needed much accusation connected the reports earlier helium could marque an due assessment. "I don't cognize capable astir it yet and I don't cognize that it's -- I don't cognize if there's -- immoderate offer. I'm definite if and erstwhile we person much information, we'll benignant it out," Thune said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to comment, saying helium didn't person capable information. "I'm not going to remark connected it," Johnson said, adding, "I haven't seen each the details astir it."

When asked astir the terms tag of the imaginable acquisition -- an estimated $400 cardinal – Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., sidestepped the issue.

"I deliberation we ought to travel the law, immoderate that is," helium said. "Well, France gave america the Statue of Liberty," Kennedy told reporters.

Republicans dodge, laughter disconnected questions astir Trump's acquisition level from Qatar primitively appeared connected abcnews.go.com