It’s getting increasingly difficult for Republicans and even the MAGA faithful to defend Donald Trump’s unconstitutional or otherwise misguided actions as president. In the case of Trump accepting a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar, they aren’t even trying — and some of them, including some of the president’s most loyal defenders, are going out of their way to bash the brazenly corrupt act.
Laura Loomer, the far-right conspiracy theorist and diehard Trump supporter (and adviser), was quick to respond to the news on Sunday that the administration was preparing to accept the pricey jet from the desert nation, and that it will be retained by Trump’s presidential library after he leaves office. “I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him. But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million ‘gift’ from jihadists in suits,” she wrote on X. Loomer added that accepting the plane would be “such a stain” on the administration.
“Ditto,” replied Mark Levin, one of Trump’s most fervent supporters on Fox News, whose fawning coverage the president frequently lauds.
Right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro sounded off on his podcast. “Is this good for President Trump? Is it good for his agenda? Is it good for draining the swamp?” he asked. “The answer is: No, it isn’t. If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop.”
Republican lawmakers weren’t thrilled, either.
“The Constitution in Article II talks about how the president can’t take emoluments or gifts from foreign leaders,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told Fox News on Monday, before attempting to parse whether the gift could be accepted if it were only used for official purposes. “We’re not talking about a ride on the plane; we’re talking about the entire $400 million plane. I think it’s not worth the appearance of impropriety.”
“It would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America,” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), per The Hill. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) seemed most concerned with safety. “I’m not flying on a Qatari plane. They support Hamas. I don’t know how you make it safe,” he said. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) echoed Paul in wondering “whether the administration would be in compliance with gift law.”
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The concern is well-founded. The Constitution states that the president cannot “accept any present … of any kind whatever” from a foreign state without the approval of Congress.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sounded off on security concerns on Tuesday. “I think the plane poses significant espionage and surveillance problems,” he told CNBC. “We’ll see how this plays out but I certainly have concerns.”
ABC News highlights how some Republicans have dodged the issue entirely, with the top Republican in the Senate, John Thune, and the top Republican in the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, both claiming on Monday that they didn’t know enough about the situation to comment on it. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) told Fox News on Tuesday that he’s “still seeking to get more information” on the situation, but did note that “we don’t want to be straight up accepting any type of gift from any foreign government.”
The former top Republican in the House, Kevin McCarthy, wasn’t as evasive during an interview with CNN. “I don’t think another country should be providing America,” he said. “We don’t need that.” McCarthy criticized the gift, but absurdly tried to shield Trump from responsibility: “I don’t know what staffer worked on this, but I know [Chief of Staff] Susie [Wiles] and President Trump and that is probably not what they desire.”
Trump has made clear, however, that he did desire the plane. In fact, he has called anyone who has said he shouldn’t have accepted it “stupid.”
“I think it’s a great gesture from Qatar, I appreciate it very much,” he said Monday. “I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.” Trump later lashed out at a reporter who asked him about the gift, launching into a screed about legendary golfer Sam Snead, whose motto, according to Trump, was to take the putts the opponent offers: “A lot of people are stupid. They say, ‘No, no, I insist on putting it.’ Then they miss it and their partner gets angry at them.”
“They’re giving us a free jet,” the president emphasized, incredulous that anyone could question whether to accept such a gift from a Middle Eastern nation notorious for trying to buy influence.
Trump is in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as part of his first official international trip of his second term. He’ll soon head to Qatar, where his company recently struck a deal to build a golf resort.
From Rolling Stone US
