Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin Calls Out Trump Over Qatari Jet Deal
Democratic Congressman and constitutional law expert Jamie Raskin is drawing a clear line in the sand: if Donald Trump wants to accept a $400 million luxury jet from the Qatari government, he must first get approval from Congress.
Appearing on CNN, Raskin was asked whether he believed the jet was part of a potentially corrupt deal tied to foreign influence. He didn’t mince words:
“Undoubtedly, there are strings attached,” Raskin said. “But that’s not even the main point. The Constitution flat-out forbids the president from accepting any kind of present, emolument, office, or title from a foreign government without the consent of Congress.”
He continued, “It says so clearly—no gifts from a king, prince, or foreign state unless Congress gives its consent. That’s the law.”
To drive the point home, Raskin referenced history: when France gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States, President Ulysses S. Grant didn't simply accept it. On his final day in office, he signed a joint resolution passed by Congress to formally receive the gift.
“This isn’t just about protocol—it’s about constitutional procedure and national security,” Raskin emphasized. “A gift like this from a foreign government raises serious questions, both in terms of foreign policy and America’s strategic interests. Congress must debate and approve it.”
Trump, meanwhile, has dismissed the concerns, calling it “stupid” to reject what he claims is a “free jet.” He reportedly intends to use it as a replacement for Air Force One and later transfer it to his presidential library.
But there's nothing truly "free" about the plane. Qatar isn't making a charitable donation—they're expecting something in return. This isn't generosity; it's a backdoor bribe designed to curry favor and influence U.S. foreign policy.
Raskin’s warning is clear: this kind of deal isn’t just inappropriate—it’s unconstitutional and dangerous.
You mean like Hunter Biden threatening foreign dignitaries and business men while on the board of directors for Burisima?
ReplyDeleteHunter Biden wasn’t president.
DeleteHow does this comment square with Trump accepting a gift of some $4milion from a foreign country
ReplyDeleteI'll make this simple and won't use big words. There is a written paper called the Constitution of the United States. The paper tells you that you are not supposed to get gifts from someplace not in the US. I hope you can understand this post.
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