Dems sound off on Trump’s ‘risky’ jet gift from Qatar
President Donald Trump’s decision to accept a $400 million jet from the Qatari royal family has sparked controversy and criticism from Democrats, who have called the gift “unconstitutional.” The Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits elected officials from accepting gifts from foreign countries without congressional consent, and Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the legality and ethics of Trump’s acceptance of the jet.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas called Trump’s acceptance of the jet a violation of the Constitution, stating that the Emoluments Clause is not a suggestion, but a law that must be followed. Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York has called for an ethics investigation into the gift, citing concerns about potential violations of the clause.
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont also condemned the gift, calling it “farcically corrupt” and “blatantly unconstitutional.” He urged Congress to intervene and prevent what he described as an “over-the-top kleptocracy” from proceeding.
When asked about Trump’s acceptance of the $400 million jet, Democratic senators expressed unanimous condemnation, with Senator Peter Welch of Vermont stating that the deal was “smelly” and “risky” to national security. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island raised concerns about the appearance of an emolument and the personal benefits that Trump could gain from the gift.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut criticized Trump for being willing to “sell out our nation’s security” in exchange for the luxury plane, calling American foreign policy should never be for sale. Despite the backlash from Democrats, the Trump administration defended the gift, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the jet was donated to the U.S. Air Force, not to Trump personally.
On Wednesday, Trump signed a series of agreements with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, including a purchasing agreement for 160 American Boeing planes and defense agreements. Trump defended his decision to accept the Qatari jet, emphasizing that it was on behalf of the U.S. government, not himself.
He argued that accepting the gift would save the military and taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, as the jet would be used as a temporary Air Force One. Trump stated that only a fool would not accept the gift on behalf of the country, emphasizing that the savings could be used to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”
In conclusion, Trump’s acceptance of the $400 million jet from the Qatari royal family has sparked controversy and criticism from Democrats, who have raised concerns about potential violations of the Emoluments Clause. While the Trump administration has defended the gift as a benefit to the U.S. government, the debate over the legality and ethics of the acceptance of the jet continues to unfold.
