The notion this wouldn't be problematic when it's government money retrofitting it, not once, but twice, and then it being donated to the Trump Library Foundation (why would a Library need a 747?) is absolutely ludicrous.
amalcon · 2h ago
This is not even Trump's biggest or second biggest corruption scandal so far this term. The biggest is the crypto currency access scandal, and the second is the various meritless lawsuits that just suddenly reached settlements.
Not that this is good - it is naked corruption. There is just so much corruption already.
cratermoon · 4h ago
Of course the library will "lend" the aircraft to Trump, permanently.
It's a transparent effort to get around the emoluments clause.
Worse,
the arrangement means Trump will get use of the aircraft as he wishes while the federal government,
i.e. you and me and all the rest of US taxpayers,
will foot the bill for maintenance and operations.
Exactly how the library would cover the costs I don't know,
but you can bet they won't come out of Trumps famously tight (and tiny) fists.
AustinDev · 3h ago
Many if not all of the recent and living presidents have used the whole 'Presidental Library' grift as a way to bypass the emoluments clause. More recently they've used 'Charitable Foundations'. Nothing has ever really been done about it for the last few folks to hold the office. Maybe because it's Trump this time, we can get some serious reform to this form of naked corruption. I expect him to go big on the library / foundation grift.
voxic11 · 3h ago
Can you cite a source for this claim. My research comes up empty. Presidential libraries are usually private foundations and usually they only receive gifts/funding from the federal government via acts of congress or after the end of the Presidency.
AIPedant · 2h ago
Similar to Bukele, the House of Thani is making a terrible mistake by catering to Trump's contempt of the rule of law. When this administration ends, El Salvador will be the country which enabled an unconstitutional gulag and sneered at American courts who tried to stop it, and Qatar will be the country which bribed the US president. I don't think whatever Trump is offering will be enough to offset the damage.
treetalker · 5h ago
Nothing to worry about: Hegseth's Department of Defense, already known for its airtight security, will ensure that the airplane is not compromised.
The planned transfer of the Qatar-"donated" airplane to the Trump presidential library foundation immediately before the end of his term would also (conveniently) insulate the airplane from both the next administration's use and examination for security problems.
Not that this is good - it is naked corruption. There is just so much corruption already.
The planned transfer of the Qatar-"donated" airplane to the Trump presidential library foundation immediately before the end of his term would also (conveniently) insulate the airplane from both the next administration's use and examination for security problems.