Dems cry foul as Qatar offers to gift Trump a new Air Force One

A Democratic Congressman is calling for an ethics investigation into President Donald Trump’s plans to accept a $400 million jet from Qatar that would serve as Air Force One temporarily before being allotted to Trump’s presidential library after he leaves office. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., wrote a letter to the Government Accountability Office expressing his concerns about the potential violation of the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Torres referred to the deal as a “flying grift” and criticized it as the most expensive gift ever received by a U.S. president. The Emoluments Clause prohibits any person holding public office from accepting presents, emoluments, offices, or titles from foreign states. Torres raised alarm over reports that President Trump is set to accept a luxurious Boeing 747-8 aircraft from Qatar for official use as Air Force One and personal use post-presidency.

In response to the criticism, President Trump defended the transaction on social media, stating that the Defense Department is receiving the aircraft as a gift and that the Democrats are opposing it because they want the government to pay for it. He described the Democrats as “World Class Losers” for their objections.

ABC News reported that Trump had toured the plane earlier this year in West Palm Beach, and the deal is expected to be announced during his upcoming trip to the Middle East. The actual transfer of the aircraft is pending legal review by the U.S. Department of Defense and Qatar’s Ministry of Defense.

Presidents have traditionally classified gifts received while in office as gifts to the presidency to circumvent the Emoluments Clause. These gifts are then cataloged and stored as part of their presidential libraries after leaving office. However, the ownership and maintenance costs of such items in the library remain unclear.

If the jet were to enter Trump’s presidential library, questions arise about how maintenance and usage costs would be handled. Trump has previously used his private Boeing 757 jet, known as Trump Force One, for travel during and after his presidency.

As the controversy surrounding the gift from Qatar continues, Rep. Torres’ call for an ethics investigation highlights the ongoing debate over presidential profiteering. The outcome of the investigation and the ultimate fate of the luxury aircraft remain to be seen.