The Most Brazen Presidential Grift in U.S. History

Trump takes a massive bribe from Qatar while you pay more for everything

Only Donald Trump—the famously inattentive father of five children with three different women—would use Mother’s Day as an opportunity to receive gifts.

And, oh, what a gift it was.

ABC News’ Jon Karl and Katherine Faulders reported on Sunday morning that:

In what may be the most valuable gift ever extended to the United States from a foreign government, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a super-luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar—a gift that is to be available for use by President Donald Trump as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which time ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation, sources familiar with the proposed arrangement told ABC News.

The plane is estimated to cost $400 million and is so luxurious it’s known as the “palace in the sky.”

Qatar is not doing this out of the kindness of its heart. They want to win favor with Trump. They know the way to his heart runs through his wallet. This is not a gift.

It’s a bribe—pure and simple.

This is the most brazenly corrupt move by any president in U.S. history, and it’s not close. It’s no different than Qatar handing Trump $400 million in cash in a duffel bag under the table. Democrats, the media, and everyone who isn’t a Trump sycophant should treat Trump accepting this “gift” as the massive scandal it is.

This Is a Bribe

Foreign governments often give gifts to U.S. government officials. I once received a box of jewels during President Obama’s 2009 visit to Saudi Arabia. I immediately handed the gift to a State Department official because the law prohibits government officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval. Every official—from President Obama down to the lowest-ranking traveling aide—does this, even for the smallest of gifts. If the president or another official wants the gift, they can buy it at market value from the U.S. government. (I couldn’t afford the Saudi Arabian jewels.)

By accepting this jet, Trump isn’t following the law. He’s breaking it.