Sen. Kevin Cramer discussing the Qatari royal family wanting to gift President Donald Trump a $400 million plan on The Jay Thomas Show
WASHINGTON – North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer isn’t concerned about President Donald Trump wanting to receive a $400 million plane from the Qatari royal family.
“The gift to the president of a new Air Force One by Qatar is unconstitutional under the Emoluments Clause,” White House Ethics Lawyer under President George W. Bush and University of Minnesota law professor Richard Painter posted on X.
The clause prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts, offices or titles from foreign governments without Congress’ consent.
“I get that, but we took the Statue of Liberty from France and we show it off every day. For some people, that is the problem is that what’s the expectation in return? It could very well be that they’re just grateful that this president hasn’t just treated them like pariahs,” Cramer explained.
Cramer says it will cost money to renovate and check the plane for bugs. He adds Trump has tried to get a new Air Force One since his first term.
Other Republicans don’t share Cramer’s view on the plane.
“I do think the jet probably sends the wrong signal to people, and I don’t like the look or the appearance [of it], so I would hope he rejects it,” Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said on Fox News.
“I also think that the plane poses significant espionage and surveillance problems. So we’ll see how this issue plays out,” Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on CNBC.
