"Unfortunately, the story is taking a different direction and it's politicized while it's a government to government deal."
– Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani of the #HouseOfThani of #Qatar
What other would governments be than political?
#uspol #politics #Boeing747_8 #P4_HBJ #ForeignEmolumentsClause #TitlesOfNobilityClause #AirForceOne
The Qatari 747 is just the latest mega-donation flowing to Trump’s “library” – Mother Jones
President Donald Trump left Qatar on Air Force One on May 15 without finalizing a plan to accept a luxury 747. Alex Brandon / APCritics warn the president’s library fund could enable corruption.
President Donald Trump insists that accepting a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar’s ruling family would not amount to a huge bribe. That’s because this opulent new Air Force One would go to his “library” when he leaves office.
That, at least, is what the president claimed amid concern that he might make personal use of a library-owned aircraft. Disputing that, he has suggested the plane would instead serve as a museum piece, like the decommissioned former Air Force One displayed at President Ronald Reagan’s library facility.
The president, or unnamed aides, are regularly attempting to wave off ethical concerns by saying that various huge donations will eventually go to the “library.”
That is a curious claim. Will a so-called “flying palace” that US taxpayers may pay more than $1 billion to upgrade really just be parked at a to-be-determined site in Florida after just a few years of use? It’s not yet clear. Facing rare bipartisan criticism over his plan to accept what experts call an unconstitutional emolument, Trump left Qatar Thursday without a public announcement finalizing a deal for the plane.
But Trump’s explanation is part of a trend. The president, or unnamed aides, are regularly attempting to wave off ethical concerns by saying that various huge donations will eventually go to the “library.”
Trump’s inaugural committee hasn’t said how much remains from the record-shattering $250 million raised via fealty displays from corporate chieftains. But the balance will go to the library, a “person close to the inauguration” told the Wall Street Journal. Proceeds from the million-dollar-a-plate fundraising dinners and $5 million-one-on-one meetings with the president—organized by the pro-Trump MAGA Inc PAC—are “all going to the library,” a “person familiar with the dinners” told Wired.
Source Links: The Qatari 747 is just the latest mega-donation flowing to Trump’s “library”
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