Editorial: Trump’s free plane from Qatar is bad look
President Donald Trump celebrates conflict He also must revel in unnecessarily gifting his political opponents issues to exploit That would appear to be the matter with the latest White House dust-up this one involving a free plane from Qatar The Middle Eastern nation has offered a -year-old Boeing - to the administration to temporarily serve as Air Force One Boeing is struggling to meet deadlines for delivering two new jets to fill that role It isn t a done deal but Trump s critics weren t waiting for the details Nothing says America First like Air Force One brought to you by Qatar read a gleeful declaration from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer It s not just bribery it s premium foreign influence with extra legroom As expected the president went on a less-than-subtle offensive So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT FREE OF CHARGE of a aircraft to replace the year old Air Force One temporarily in a very masses and transparent transaction so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay TOP DOLLAR for the plane he wrote on Truth Social Anybody can do that The Dems are World Class Losers But this is not about saving money While charges of bribery are exaggerated there are legitimate ethical issues at play A gift of this magnitude from a foreign executive the jet itself without renovations might run million is an awful look Let s remember the Constitution bars federal personnel from accepting any present emolument office or title of any kind whatsoever from any king prince or foreign state without the consent of Congress In addition Qatar is not particular pristine American partner The U S State Department has identified credible reports of arbitrary arrest and serious restrictions on free expression the press and freedom of association The nation has also harbored and financially supported the fanatical Hamas terror group which carried out the barbaric Oct attacks against Israel our staunch ally in the region Other critics raise measure concerns regarding the aircraft itself A handful of Senate Republicans Susan Collins Rand Paul and Ted Cruz have pushed back against the president They re on firm ground This is not an issue worth the political capital particularly as the White House must negotiate deal deals and shepherd budget and tax regulation through Congress Trump touts his art of the deal skills He should recognize that this is a bad one Las Vegas Review-Journal Tribune News Arrangement Editorial cartoon by Al Goodwyn Creators Syndicate
