I thought I understood much of what the Constitution allows and prohibits. One of the things the nation’s governing document disallows is the president accepting gifts from foreign governments while in office.
It’s called the “emoluments clause” and is as unambiguous as anything in the nation’s governing document.
So, I am forced to wonder aloud: How does Donald Trump get away with accepting a $400 million jetliner that he will keep grounded until he finishes work on his presidential library?
Trumpkins say he won’t actually use the aircraft while he’s in office. Therefore, the aircraft doesn’t fall under the emoluments clause prohibition … they say. Well, such “logic” is pure crap. Trump accepted the gift while serving as POTUS. Thus, in my view he has violated the clause without question.
Trump denies any wrongdoing. Qatar officials who gave him the aircraft were thanking him for standing strong in the Middle East against terrorists and terrorism. But dammit! — they still gave him the gift. The Constitution says he cannot accept it.
How in the name of constitutional clarity does this clown get away with this?