We all know that the #ConvictedFelon in the White House is also the “Grifter-in-Chief.” Everything he does publicly and privately is meant to enrich him, his family, and his companies. He is also attempting to consolidate all government power in the Executive Branch by disregarding Congress and its role in governing and legislation.
A large portion of Trump’s actions and executive orders are seen as illegal and unconstitutional, and he and MAGA are angry at the Supreme Court and the Federal Judiciary for attempting to cancel much of what he is doing.
His acceptance of a plane from Qatar is an example of Trump violating the Emoluments Clause. Qatar claims that Trump requested (begged for) the plane, and Trump attempted to mitigate the incident by stating that it would be given to the Department of Defense instead of being personally awarded to him. His initial intent was to keep the plane even after he was no longer president.
It has been estimated that retrofitting and upgrading the fourteen-year-old plane to be used as Air Force One could cost as much as one billion taxpayer dollars.
The Emoluments Clause is a provision in Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution that seeks to prevent conflicts of interest and corruption by prohibiting government officials from receiving gifts, payments, or other benefits from foreign states or monarchies without the consent of Congress.
It states: "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, 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."
There is also a Domestic Emoluments Clause, which applies specifically to the President and is found in Article II, Section 1, Clause 7. It prohibits the President from receiving any emolument from the federal or state governments beyond their fixed salary.
Many MAGA are claiming that previous presidents have accepted gifts from foreign governments, specifically and erroneously mentioning the Statue of Liberty and the Resolute Desk, both of which had the requisite Congressional approval.
Statue of Liberty:
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the United States, symbolizing friendship and mutual ideals of liberty, as well as the end of the institution of slavery. The U.S. government formally accepted the statue in the late 19th century.
The process involved extensive diplomatic negotiations and fundraising efforts on both sides of the Atlantic. The pedestal on which the statue stands was funded by American contributions, showing a collaborative effort rather than a personal gift to any individual president.
Importantly, the gift was accepted with the approval of Congress, in accordance with the Constitutional provisions regarding the acceptance of gifts from foreign entities.
Resolute Desk:
The Resolute Desk was crafted from the timbers of HMS Resolute, a British ship. It was presented to President Rutherford B. Hayes by Queen Victoria in 1880.
This gift underwent diplomatic discussions and was accepted as a state gift, not a personal gift to the president.
The desk is considered government property, underlining its status as an officially sanctioned gift with Congressional approval.
Both the Statue of Liberty and the Resolute Desk were thus not only symbolic but also legally and procedurally aligned with the requirements set forth by the U.S. Constitution, which involve congressional approval. This contrasts with the Qatar plane, where questions of procedural adherence and the balance between personal and state benefits have been raised. The critical distinction lies in adhering to the Constitutional processes, ensuring that gifts from foreign nations are vetted and accepted in accordance with the Constitution.
Even Qatar recognizes the controversy and has definitively stated that Trump asked them for the plane; they didn’t “offer” it to him.
Trump constantly goes against the Constitution and the laws because he believes it is his right, and he wants to be a dictator or a king.
The sane Americans are fighting back, including having a day of protests on June 14 called “No Kings Day.” June 14 is the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and also Trump’s birthday. He wants to have a military parade for himself, similar to those held by North Korea.
What are your thoughts about Trump violating the Emoluments Clause?
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He's the usual authoritarian dictator, the same as the dictators in those countries he calls "shitholes." All authoritarians follow the same game plan, its been that way for hundreds of years and we just keep falling for it. We need to teach the history of dictatorship in all schools around the world and especially here in the US.
Don’t understand why he thinks everyone is as stupid as he is! It’s amazing how hypnotized folks are about his bullshit rhetoric but I’ve never heard him say a complete sentence that made any sense ever!
He's the usual authoritarian dictator, the same as the dictators in those countries he calls "shitholes." All authoritarians follow the same game plan, its been that way for hundreds of years and we just keep falling for it. We need to teach the history of dictatorship in all schools around the world and especially here in the US.
Don’t understand why he thinks everyone is as stupid as he is! It’s amazing how hypnotized folks are about his bullshit rhetoric but I’ve never heard him say a complete sentence that made any sense ever!