Qatar plane gift to Trump is plainly wrong

The revelation of President Donald Trump’s plan to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family that would serve as Air Force One is the latest instance of Trump never acknowledging even the potential for a conflict between his elected role and his private gain.

Attacking critics of this deal, Trump claimed on social media the Defense Department "is getting a gift, free of charge." Trump since his first term has insisted that he needs a new aircraft and complained fiercely about delays in the delivery by Boeing of a new Air Force One. That complaint pales compared with what might happen now. Trump has business interests in the Middle East, including a new partnership on a real estate project in Qatar. But as president, Trump is supposed to be representing the American public, not himself.

The commercial Boeing 747-8 offered by Qatar would cost some $400 million new. Under this opaque arrangement, as leaked so far, the legal cover for the transaction would be that the Qatar plane used by Trump as Air Force One would go to his presidential library foundation after he leaves office. It could conceivably then be used privately by Trump or family members. That transfer of title to the Trump library at the end of his term makes the gift legal, according to a memo written by Attorney General Pam Bondi, a former registered lobbyist for Qatar.

But common sense would tell you it wouldn’t be the people of the U.S. or our Defense Department that the giant gift is bestowed upon.

Once again, Trump finds himself on the wrong side of the Constitution. The Foreign Emoluments Clause forbids public officeholders from accepting presents "of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State" without consent of Congress. In 2019, when he sought to host the G-7 at one of his resorts, Trump mocked the "phony Emoluments Clause." Fortunately, he was persuaded to back off that deal.

Trump's risk-taking in his second term is different. Asked about the gifted plane, he defended the idea Monday. "I think that was a very nice gesture. I could be a stupid person and say we don’t want a free plane. We give free things out. We’ll take one, too. It helps us out."

Beyond legality and ethics, the Air Force One proposal raises security concerns. In Palm Beach in February, Trump toured the so-called "palace in the sky" jet. There are photos of the interior and other very specific details about all component parts built into the aircraft on the web. How can the ease of obtaining that kind of information be consistent with the security standards required for protecting the American president?

The obvious potential for corruption, security compromise, and conflicts should prompt the White House to cancel this dubious "gift." Qatar is a hereditary monarchy; we are not. If Trump persists in putting regal entitlements before the republic, Congress and the courts must be prodded to squelch them right away.