What is President Donald Trump thinking? He’s bragging of winning a $400 million “gift” — a “palace in the sky” Boeing 747-8 jet — from Qatar that, in effect, he’ll eventually own personally.
Sorry, this “gift” is far from free; Qatar will surely expect something in return.
And the optics are beyond awful, especially as Congress mulls hundreds of billions in Medicaid cuts.
“The fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE . . . so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane.” Trump posted on social media.
Yes, Qatar’s opulently decked-out 747 would be transferred first to the Defense Department and used as Air Force One when needed, while Boeing completes work on replacements for the two 30-plus-year-old jets now in service.
It may be OK for Qatar to temporarily lend a plane to America for fill-in use.
But the plan calls for the jet to be donated later to Trump’s presidential library, arguably making him its personal owner.
That not only looks bad; it creates all kinds of conflicts of interest and runs smack into the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits foreign gifts.
Trump may claim it’s just a “nice gesture” from friends; after all, he, his family and his pal and Middle East point man Steve Witkoff enjoy good relations with the Qataris.
Eric Trump signed a $5.5 billion deal with a Qatari company to build a golf club and villas 40 miles north of Doha (it’s expected to net millions for the Trump clan); Qatar spent $643 million in a leveraged buyout to bail out Witkoff and his partners in a New York hotel project.
But again, Qatar is famous for seeking to buy influence.
And it’s not just Qatar: Trump and his family have also been pushing their crypto projects, $TRUMP meme coin and World Financial Liberty, attracting a range of foreign buyers who may be seeking access.
It seems déjà vu Biden corruption all over again.
And in the case of the jet, as Dan Raviv notes, Qatar isn’t truly a friend but a “frenemy.”
Though it lets the United States maintain an air base in Qatar and mediates Israel-Hamas cease-fire talks, it also cooperates with Iran, funds Hamas and hosts its leaders, spreads anti-US and antisemitic hatred via Al Jazeera and buys influence at US college campuses that (surprise!) promote terrorism.
Reports suggest Hamas’ last US hostage, Edan Alexander, whom it released Monday, may fly to Qatar to meet Trump while he’s there this week.
That would perfectly reflect America’s complicated relationship with Doha: While his freedom is terrific news, it may push Trump to pressure Israel for a permanent cease-fire that allows Hamas to survive and remain in Gaza.
Team Trump claims the president’s actions are all meant to benefit the nation, but given all the foreign investments and conflicts of interest — and now a $400 million plane — they seem designed to benefit the president more than anything.
Trump should think twice before accepting this deal.
2 comments:
"That man is so nice!" she gushed. "He's already bought me three drinks tonight."
Unbelievable!
If someone buys his wife of 25 years a mink coat for Mother's Day, he is most likely expressing his appreciation of her as a mother.
If someone buys a relative stranger a mink coat, he probably expects something in return that is worth more to him than the cost of the coat.
When Qatar is offering a $400 million "gift" to the United States, it would be reasonable to assume that they want something in return, something that may cost the United States far more in the future.
Although I have always been supportive of President Trump, I believe he ought to heed the words of the soothsayer in Homer's, "The Odessey", "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts."
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