| From | MassDems <[email protected]> |
| Subject | Trump’s Qatari Jet & Growing Pattern of Corruption |
| Date | May 19, 2025 5:38 PM |
Links have been removed from this email. Learn more in the FAQ.
Links have been removed from this email. Learn more in the FAQ.
[[link removed]]
Fellow Democrat,
The recent revelations involving the acceptance of a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar are not only shocking, they’re dangerous.
This isn’t just about one plane. It is about a clear pattern of unethical and unconstitutional behavior. Here are the facts:
The “Gift” from Qatar
* The Qatari royal family has offered a Boeing 747-8 “Flying Palace” to the U.S. Air Force.
* Trump publicly called it a “free gift” and “a beautiful gift. Why wouldn’t I accept a gift?” (Fox News, Sean Hannity)
* The jet is reportedly intended to replace the current Air Force One, despite a separate $3.9 billion Air Force One contract signed in 2018, with delivery not expected until 2029.
* The current Air Force One is a Boeing 747-200B, in service since 1990. Trump described it as “smaller and less impressive.”
* Attorney General Pam Bondi (a former lobbyist for Qatar from 2020-2022) claimed the plane could be used legally and then transferred to Trump's presidential library. (Newsweek, 5/12)
* White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the gift was accepted “in full compliance with all applicable laws.”
* In reality, the plane will need full reconfiguration to meet Air Force One standards, likely costing U.S. taxpayers over $1 billion and taking at least two years. (NBC News 5/14)
* Once transferred to Trump’s library, he could use it personally and indefinitely.
Legal & Ethical Concerns
* The Constitution’s Emoluments Clause prohibits presidents from accepting gifts from foreign states without approval from Congress.
* Senator Lisa Murkowski and others raised serious constitutional concerns about this gift. (Boston Globe, 5/13)
* Rep. Hakeem Jeffries called it “unconstitutional” and said there’s no chance Congress would approve it. (AP, Hakeem Jeffries press conference, 5/13)
* The Senate Foreign Relations Committee flagged it as a national security threat and a clear example of foreign influence. (Boston Globe, 5/13)
Broader Pattern of Corruption and “Pay-to-Play”
* Three days before his inauguration, Trump launched the $TRUMP meme coin.
* Estimated profits: $350 million for Trump-owned companies (per Financial Times ).
* This week:
* Top 220 coin holders are invited to a gala dinner with Trump at his D.C. golf club.
* Top 25 holders will get access to a private reception with the President.
* The event is billed as “the most exclusive invitation in the world.”
* Eric and Don Jr. are leading a global blitz of profit-driven deals under the Trump name:
* A luxury hotel in Dubai
* A residential tower in Saudi Arabia
* A golf course and villa complex in Qatar - all announced before Trump’s Middle East trip
* Don Jr. and Trump allies are launching a private “Executive Branch” club:
* Membership fee: $500,000+
* Goal: Give business and tech elites access to Trump and his administration
Why This Matters
This is not normal. It is not acceptable. It is not legal without Congressional approval.
Millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, while Trump is normalizing the idea of taking luxury jets from foreign monarchies.
Accepting this plane from Qatar—a government with ties to Hamas and a record of human rights abuses—is not just unethical, it is a national security risk.
Silence from the Mass GOP
Massachusetts Republicans have remained silent in the face of these mounting scandals - a silence that amounts to complicity. At a moment when the ethical lines are being brazenly crossed, their refusal to speak out shows either cowardice or quiet endorsement.
The MassDems calls on the Mass GOP and every Republican candidate, especially those running for governor, to publicly reject this conduct.
The MassDems will keep exposing the Trump organization’s shameless efforts to profit off the presidency. This kind of behavior cannot be allowed to become the new normal in American politics.
Thank you for staying vigilant and standing up for democratic principles when others won’t.
Standing with you,
The MassDems Team
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
Paid for by the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee
Massachusetts Democratic Party
11 Beacon St
Suite 410
Boston, MA 02108
United States
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .
Fellow Democrat,
The recent revelations involving the acceptance of a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar are not only shocking, they’re dangerous.
This isn’t just about one plane. It is about a clear pattern of unethical and unconstitutional behavior. Here are the facts:
The “Gift” from Qatar
* The Qatari royal family has offered a Boeing 747-8 “Flying Palace” to the U.S. Air Force.
* Trump publicly called it a “free gift” and “a beautiful gift. Why wouldn’t I accept a gift?” (Fox News, Sean Hannity)
* The jet is reportedly intended to replace the current Air Force One, despite a separate $3.9 billion Air Force One contract signed in 2018, with delivery not expected until 2029.
* The current Air Force One is a Boeing 747-200B, in service since 1990. Trump described it as “smaller and less impressive.”
* Attorney General Pam Bondi (a former lobbyist for Qatar from 2020-2022) claimed the plane could be used legally and then transferred to Trump's presidential library. (Newsweek, 5/12)
* White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the gift was accepted “in full compliance with all applicable laws.”
* In reality, the plane will need full reconfiguration to meet Air Force One standards, likely costing U.S. taxpayers over $1 billion and taking at least two years. (NBC News 5/14)
* Once transferred to Trump’s library, he could use it personally and indefinitely.
Legal & Ethical Concerns
* The Constitution’s Emoluments Clause prohibits presidents from accepting gifts from foreign states without approval from Congress.
* Senator Lisa Murkowski and others raised serious constitutional concerns about this gift. (Boston Globe, 5/13)
* Rep. Hakeem Jeffries called it “unconstitutional” and said there’s no chance Congress would approve it. (AP, Hakeem Jeffries press conference, 5/13)
* The Senate Foreign Relations Committee flagged it as a national security threat and a clear example of foreign influence. (Boston Globe, 5/13)
Broader Pattern of Corruption and “Pay-to-Play”
* Three days before his inauguration, Trump launched the $TRUMP meme coin.
* Estimated profits: $350 million for Trump-owned companies (per Financial Times ).
* This week:
* Top 220 coin holders are invited to a gala dinner with Trump at his D.C. golf club.
* Top 25 holders will get access to a private reception with the President.
* The event is billed as “the most exclusive invitation in the world.”
* Eric and Don Jr. are leading a global blitz of profit-driven deals under the Trump name:
* A luxury hotel in Dubai
* A residential tower in Saudi Arabia
* A golf course and villa complex in Qatar - all announced before Trump’s Middle East trip
* Don Jr. and Trump allies are launching a private “Executive Branch” club:
* Membership fee: $500,000+
* Goal: Give business and tech elites access to Trump and his administration
Why This Matters
This is not normal. It is not acceptable. It is not legal without Congressional approval.
Millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, while Trump is normalizing the idea of taking luxury jets from foreign monarchies.
Accepting this plane from Qatar—a government with ties to Hamas and a record of human rights abuses—is not just unethical, it is a national security risk.
Silence from the Mass GOP
Massachusetts Republicans have remained silent in the face of these mounting scandals - a silence that amounts to complicity. At a moment when the ethical lines are being brazenly crossed, their refusal to speak out shows either cowardice or quiet endorsement.
The MassDems calls on the Mass GOP and every Republican candidate, especially those running for governor, to publicly reject this conduct.
The MassDems will keep exposing the Trump organization’s shameless efforts to profit off the presidency. This kind of behavior cannot be allowed to become the new normal in American politics.
Thank you for staying vigilant and standing up for democratic principles when others won’t.
Standing with you,
The MassDems Team
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
Paid for by the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee
Massachusetts Democratic Party
11 Beacon St
Suite 410
Boston, MA 02108
United States
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .
Message Analysis
- Sender: Massachusetts Democratic Party
- Political Party: Democratic
- Country: United States
- State/Locality: Massachusetts
- Office: n/a