WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to David Warrington, the White House Counsel, raising constitutional and ethical concerns regarding reports that the Qatari royal family is preparing to gift a “super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet” to be used by President Trump. In the letter, Ranking Member Shaheen emphasized that such a gift would violate the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution and further entangle U.S. foreign policy with Trump’s personal financial interests at a time in which the Trump Organization continues to aggressively pursue business opportunities in Qatar and the region.
"Such an act raises serious constitutional and ethical questions—foremost among them an apparent violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution,” wrote Ranking Member Shaheen. “The emoluments clause prohibits any person holding office of profit or trust under the United States from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any foreign state without the consent of Congress. The intent of this provision is clear: to prevent corruption of and foreign influence by foreign governments over U.S. officials, including the President.”
"This reported arrangement would be alarming if it were an isolated incident—but it is not,” continued Ranking Member Shaheen. "It is impossible to ignore the numerous, mounting conflicts surrounding the president, his family and the Middle East region. Reports of this potential gift come as the President is headed to the region, where the Trump Organization recently announced a $5.5 billion deal for a luxury golf resort in Qatar and a Trump family cryptocurrency venture received a $2 billion investment from a UAE-based firm.”
“Congress and the American public have a right to know the details of any arrangement that calls into question whether the President is acting on behalf of U.S. interests and U.S. interests alone,” concluded Ranking Member Shaheen.
Full text of the letter is available HERE and provided below.
Mr. Warrington:
Yesterday, ABC News and others reported that the royal family of Qatar is preparing to provide a “super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet” to be used by President Trump and then subsequently donated to his presidential library. A spokesperson for the government of Qatar maintained that any such deal “remains under review” but did not deny that providing the jet was under consideration. Such an act raises serious constitutional and ethical questions—foremost among them an apparent violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The emoluments clause prohibits any person holding office of profit or trust under the United States from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any foreign state without the consent of Congress. The intent of this provision is clear: to prevent corruption of and foreign influence by foreign governments over U.S. officials, including the President.
Indeed, this clause has prevented past presidents from accepting gifts such as medals, or honors including honorary citizenship of another country. A jet—reportedly valued at $400 million—from a foreign power could not be a starker example of why this provision exists. Even if provided to the Department of Defense, it is clearly for the benefit of the President, and based on reports, ultimately a planned gift for him personally.
Foreign influence can come in many forms. As the U.S. Department of Justice has long acknowledged, the emoluments clause “has been interpreted as being ‘particularly directed against every kind of influence by foreign governments upon officers of the United States.’” Here there is no question that such a lavish gift has the potential to persuade the President to provide favorable treatment, either directly to the foreign power providing the gift or another party at their behest.
This reported arrangement would be alarming if it were an isolated incident—but it is not. It is impossible to ignore the numerous, mounting conflicts surrounding the president, his family and the Middle East region. Reports of this potential gift come as the President is headed to the region, where the Trump Organization recently announced a $5.5 billion deal for a luxury golf resort in Qatar and a Trump family cryptocurrency venture received a $2 billion investment from a UAE-based firm. And all of this comes as Qatar is playing a pivotal role in ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
Congress and the American public have a right to know the details of any arrangement that calls into question whether the President is acting on behalf of U.S. interests and U.S. interests alone.
To that end, I respectfully request:
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.
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