How Pam Bondi Will Get Round Constitution to Give Trump a Free Flying Palace
www.thedailybeast.com
Trump will receive a “flying palace” as his new Air Force One, a Boeing 747 that he plans to keep for himself.

Attorney General Pam Bondi gave Donald Trump the green light to accept a $400 million “flying palace” as a gift from Qatar.

ABC News reported that the Qatar royal family is expected to gift Trump a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet ahead of his big trip to the Middle East, where he is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar to secure “economic agreements.”

Bondi and Trump’s top White House lawyer, David Warrington, have already smoothed the legal details. They concluded that the gift is “legally permissible” because it is being handed to the United States Air Force and then will be transferred to Trump’s presidential library foundation. They also determined it does not constitute a bribe because the gift does not hinge on an official act.

  • MagosInformaticus@sopuli.xyz
    11·
    16 hours ago

    No Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
    US Constitution section 9 clause 8.

    I’d say that’s pretty clear an official act to the giver’s benefit is not a necessary element of the prohibited conduct. If something is offered, both houses of congress must vote to allow it or the gift must be declined.

    • Billiam@lemmy.world
      1·
      6 hours ago

      Clearly if the Founders didn’t want SCOTUS the President to be given an RV airplane, they would have said as much!

      -Clearance Thomas

    • Don_alForno@feddit.org
      5·
      16 hours ago

      Yeah, but, you see, it’s the air force that’s getting the gift, it’s just meant for orange Hitler’s exclusive use. That’s clearly not a gift to him personally. /wink

      • Zaktor@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        5·
        16 hours ago

        And they’ve stated in advance that the Air Force won’t continue to own it after Trump to benefit the United States.