Durbin: Trump’s decision to accept a private jet as a gift from the royal family of Qatar is just the latest in a long line of shady dealings by the President & his family
WASHINGTON – Shortly after the U.S. formally accepted a private jet as a gift from the royal family of Qatar as a new Air Force One for President Trump, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was on the Senate floor slamming this decision as just the latest in a long line of shady dealings by President Trump and his family.
“Republicans have claimed for years that Joe Biden, during his administration and his time as Vice President, engaged in wrongdoing due to his family’s business dealings. I am sure you all remember congressional Republicans’ endless investigations into President Biden’s son and his past business dealings as a private citizen,” Durbin said. “But despite multiple investigations and a failed impeachment inquiry against President Biden, Republicans are largely silent and willing to disregard the overwhelming corruption of President Trump and his family as they pocket millions of dollars personally at the expense of the American people.”
Durbin continued, “In the latest of a long line of shady dealings, President Trump is receiving a private jet as a gift from the royal family of Qatar and is claiming that it’s simply a gift to the Defense Department. This aircraft that we are talking about is sitting in San Antonio, Texas. It would be retrofitted to act as Air Force One for the remainder of Trump’s term in office, before ownership is transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. The President claimed it would be ‘stupid [to] say ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’’ However, what he doesn’t say is it will cost American taxpayers millions more to retrofit the plane to meet the President’s security, communication, and intelligence needs. What the President is suggesting is stupid… retrofitting a very expensive plane from a foreign government, which constitutes a major counterintelligence risk, on the American taxpayer’s dime, when an American company is already manufacturing the next Air Force One.”
The Constitution explicitly gives Congress the power to control whether any officer of the United States, including the President, may accept a gift from “any King, Prince, or foreign State.” Durbin highlighted that this unprecedented gift clearly violates the Constitution and the laws enacted by Congress to govern such gifts. Yet, Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi reportedly concluded that it would be “legally permissible” for President Trump to accept this gift.
Last week, Durbin called for AG Bondi to provide to the Senate Judiciary Committee the memo where she purportedly deemed President Trump’s attempted acquisition of this private jet “legally permissible,” despite its unconstitutionality and her clear conflict of interest with Qatar from past lobbying work.
“I’m not surprised by it. This Administration continues to abuse its power at the cost of the American people, time and time again, while Republicans in Congress stand by and allow it,” Durbin said. “And make no mistake, this is more than just a gift that solely benefits President Trump and not the American people. The President, it has been reported, actively solicited this gift from Qatar. The question remains, in exchange for what? President Trump’s acceptance of such a substantial gift from a foreign government could disproportionately influence the foreign policy of this country—exactly why the Founders gave Congress the power to control these gifts in the Constitution. It is clear to our foreign partners and enemies that under President Trump, America’s policymaking is open to the highest bidder.”
Durbin then outlined how President Trump and his family are also profiting off the promise of influencing domestic policy. Right before his second inauguration, President Trump launched a valueless cryptocurrency token marketed not as an investment, but as monetary support for Trump. First Lady Melania Trump also promoted her own meme coin shortly thereafter. This scheme allowed him to pocket millions of dollars in direct payments with little to no public disclosure or oversight. He has since fired the heads of the agencies that investigated similar crypto schemes.
Donald Trump Jr. has also founded a new private membership club in D.C. called “Executive Branch,” with a $500,000 membership fee. The launch party, featuring several cabinet and other administration officials, underscored Trump Jr.’s effort to sell access.
“That’s what this administration does: It sees a barrier to cutting corners or any check on its corruption and gets rid of it. And these actions were entirely predictable because Trump and his family also blatantly used the presidency to enrich themselves by selling access and the chance to influence policy under his [first] Administration,” Durbin said. “I am sadden that my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle apparently believe that silence is the best response to these outrages. It is the silence of the lambs. When will they stand up for the American people and say enough is enough? Or do they believe American policy should be sold to whatever country is willing to place the highest bid? If we are talking about a swamp in D.C., sadly, this is a major part of it.”
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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