Trump accepts 400 million dollar bribe.

[ThatRobGuy]

Yes. If it comes from Qatar or Canada. It's wrong. Period.

Now if you want to start a thread on political hypocrisy (which this isn't about) then click the relevant button, think of a catchy title and off you go.

Political hypocrisy is just one aspect.

This thread is about the concerns surrounding potential foreign influence aimed at government institutions, correct?

We had all of those conversations before about how the University systems are tax-exempt, and are given a certain amount of latitude, based on the fact that with regards to their academic and research functions, they're essentially state actors. Meaning, it would neither be feasible nor practical for the government to try to take on some of those scientific research endeavors "in-house" in government agencies, so they're outsourcing that to Universities.

If Qatar is sending $4B into the American university systems for reasons of influencing academic perspectives...

Qatar and China Are Pouring Billions Into Elite American Universities

Foreign countries such as China and Qatar have poured $29 billion into campuses over the past few years. ‘Hostile powers are buying influence on American campuses at an industrial scale.’

www.thefp.com

Qatar’s Funding of US Universities: Influence and Controversy - https://eutoday.net

The case seeks the disclosure of financial records detailing Qatar’s contributions to several prominent institutions, including Harvard University and

eutoday.net

And those Universities are engaged in public/private partnerships, then it's every bit as concerning as a 400m gift.



To say that it's not about hypocrisy is a bit of a debate game that gets played.

People feigning outrage of about the gift, when in fact, what they're actually upset about is the recipient, and then dismissing the critique with "well, this isn't about that" is a bit of a disingenuous debate game people play, because in reality, it's not really about the thing they're claiming it's about either if they're unwilling to discuss the broader topic as a whole and instead want to fixate on the one particular instance that just so happens to involve the politician they don't like.


It's very reminiscent of the "executive orders" debates we see every 4 years. People pretend to be outraged about EOs, someone points out that other presidents from the other team have also issued a lot of EOs, and are met with a response of "Well, that's off topic, this is just about this one particular president's EOs and nobody else's"...which means it wasn't the EOs that they were really upset about.

 

[essentialsaltes]

On Monday, Mr. Trump defended receiving the plane, saying "they're giving us a gift."

Mr. Trump continued that "I think Qatar, who has really, we've helped them a lot over the years in terms of security and safety,"

And furthermore: "the Crooked Democrats ... insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane," he wrote. "Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA."

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

https://www.newsweek.com/pam-bondi-qatar-links-under-scrutiny-over-trump-luxury-plane-gift-2070774

EDIT: Oops! Accidently posted the previous link. There's more!!

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

This isn't even the worst thing Trump has done. Compared to his involvement in January 6th. And other bad things he's done. He responsible for people being killed on January 6th. Sadly his people tries to defend.

 

[Landon Caeli]

I agree it is suspicious.

BTW, the Guardian news report is being contradicted by my radio station and I have no idea which report is correct. The radio station is saying the plane was gifted to the US, not Trump.

It will belong to the US government... Trump only wants to use it until the new Air Force One is built, which Boeing is taking an extremely long time to furnish.

 

[DaisyDay]

New Trump golf course, $5.5 billion beachside project announced for Qatar

The announcement of a golf resort in Qatar underscores the deepening ties between Trump's affiliated company and Gulf nations.

www.newsweek.com

Is the United States opening a golf course in Qatar or is it the president's personal organization, which by extension, the president himself? I could have sworn that the Trump said that his eponymous organization was not going to do new business in foreign nations - or was that only valid for his first term? Bit of both:

Jan. 10, 2025 1:58 PM PT - ...The so-called ethics white paper bars the Trump Organization from striking deals directly with foreign governments, but allows ones with private companies abroad. An ethics pact that Trump signed eight years ago barred deals with both foreign governments and foreign companies.

...The Trump Organization recently struck deals for hotels and golf resorts in Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, raising concerns by government ethics experts that the president-elect’s personal financial interests could influence policy toward those countries.

The family company has expressed interest in striking deals in Israel and elsewhere, and has financial interests in two businesses with publicly traded stock that could get a boost from foreign investors. That includes Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of social media platform Truth Social, and a new cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial.​

Is it okay as long as the deal is not with the government of Qatar? The Flying Palace is from the Qatari government - just a coinky-dinky.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Is the United States opening a golf course in Qatar or is it the president's personal organization, which by extension, the president himself? I could have sworn that the Trump said that his eponymous organization was not going to do new business in foreign nations - or was that only valid for his first term? Bit of both:

Jan. 10, 2025 1:58 PM PT - ...The so-called ethics white paper bars the Trump Organization from striking deals directly with foreign governments, but allows ones with private companies abroad. An ethics pact that Trump signed eight years ago barred deals with both foreign governments and foreign companies.​

​

...The Trump Organization recently struck deals for hotels and golf resorts in Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, raising concerns by government ethics experts that the president-elect’s personal financial interests could influence policy toward those countries.​

​

The family company has expressed interest in striking deals in Israel and elsewhere, and has financial interests in two businesses with publicly traded stock that could get a boost from foreign investors. That includes Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of social media platform Truth Social, and a new cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial.​

Is it okay as long as the deal is not with the government of Qatar? The Flying Palace is from the Qatari government - just a coinky-dinky.

On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his candidacy for President... So that means in about 30 days, you've had 10 years to get him on something.

Yet here we are, only a scuffed ear and a few charges later, and he's still your president. Might as well give up the fight.

What's meant to be, is meant to be.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

The fact that none of the adults in the administration are not doing anything to prevent the president from looking like a fool leads me to believe we might see the Vice President who once said Trump was America's Hitler fill the shoes soon after the 25th is utilized.

 

[Hans Blaster]

On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his candidacy for President... So that means in about 30 days, you've had 10 years to get him on something.

Who said any of this is about trying to "get him on something". He does blatently corrupt things in public, but most refuse to do anything about it or excusify it.

Yet here we are, only a scuffed ear and a few charges later, and he's still your president. Might as well give up the fight.

Nearly 100 charges, including 34 convictions. (Hey you brought them up.)

What's meant to be, is meant to be.

Fate is nonsense.

 

[DaisyDay]

On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his candidacy for President... So that means you've had 10 years to get him on something.

Me? I am not the law. Trump was/is untouchable as president as ruled by the USSC, so that 10 years was only 4 years.

After leaving office, he was got on fraud, sexual assault, fraud, defamation and fraud. He was, as you know, indicted on mishandling sensitive documents and obstruction (Mar-a-Lago), attempting to overthrow the 2020 election, conspiring to defraud voters, corruptly disrupting an official Congressional proceeding (DC), leading a racketeering enterprise, and attempting to interfere with Georgia's 2020 election (Georgia) - but his election caused them to be dismissed without prejudice.

Yet here we are, only a scuffed ear and a few charges later, and he's still your president. Might as well give up the fight.

It is difficult to fight this level of corruption, particularly when the president is the source and when the Supreme Court and Congress tend to chuckle at it and turn a blind eye, but it's not impossible. Do you think we should just accept the corruption and lawlessness?

 

[wing2000]

IMO, the POTUS should fly commercial with the rest of us.

 

[essentialsaltes]

IMO, the POTUS should fly commercial with the rest of us.

Just put the fire nuclear weapons button next to the call attendant button for all seats.

 

[wing2000]

And then there is still the Emoluments Clause:

Article I, Section 9, Clause 8:​

​

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.​

​

Oh, but our Attorney General says otherwise. Ms Bondi previously worked as a lobbyist for Qatar....

 

[durangodawood]

Political hypocrisy is just one aspect.

This thread is about the concerns surrounding potential foreign influence aimed at government institutions, correct?

We had all of those conversations before about how the University systems are tax-exempt, and are given a certain amount of latitude, based on the fact that with regards to their academic and research functions, they're essentially state actors. Meaning, it would neither be feasible nor practical for the government to try to take on some of those scientific research endeavors "in-house" in government agencies, so they're outsourcing that to Universities.

If Qatar is sending $4B into the American university systems for reasons of influencing academic perspectives...

Qatar and China Are Pouring Billions Into Elite American Universities

Foreign countries such as China and Qatar have poured $29 billion into campuses over the past few years. ‘Hostile powers are buying influence on American campuses at an industrial scale.’

www.thefp.com

Qatar’s Funding of US Universities: Influence and Controversy - https://eutoday.net

The case seeks the disclosure of financial records detailing Qatar’s contributions to several prominent institutions, including Harvard University and

eutoday.net

And those Universities are engaged in public/private partnerships, then it's every bit as concerning as a 400m gift.



To say that it's not about hypocrisy is a bit of a debate game that gets played.

People feigning outrage of about the gift, when in fact, what they're actually upset about is the recipient, and then dismissing the critique with "well, this isn't about that" is a bit of a disingenuous debate game people play, because in reality, it's not really about the thing they're claiming it's about either if they're unwilling to discuss the broader topic as a whole and instead want to fixate on the one particular instance that just so happens to involve the politician they don't like.


It's very reminiscent of the "executive orders" debates we see every 4 years. People pretend to be outraged about EOs, someone points out that other presidents from the other team have also issued a lot of EOs, and are met with a response of "Well, that's off topic, this is just about this one particular president's EOs and nobody else's"...which means it wasn't the EOs that they were really upset about.

Nonsense. Foreign influence on our foreign policy branch of govt is a whole other level altogether compared to influence on other institutions like universities or media, etc. I dont like the latter either. But the former warrants more than your usual attack "the conversation" instead of the issue routine.

 

[essentialsaltes]

2024: Biden is negotiating with the Qataris who fund Hamas terrorism!
2025: What a lovely plane our friends the Qataris have provided for Trump's use!

 

[wing2000]

“I think it’s a great gesture from Qatar. I appreciate it very much,” Mr. Trump said. “I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person say, ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’ But it was — I thought it was a great gesture.”


Ethics? Only stupid people have such concerns.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/us/politics/trump-qatar-plane-jet.html

 

[essentialsaltes]

Republican President accepts foreign gift on behalf of the American People, but rejects offer of jumbo transport.

Your Majesty's letters show an understanding that our laws forbid the President from receiving these rich presents as personal treasures. They are therefore accepted in accordance with Your Majesty's desire as tokens of your good will and friendship for the American People. Congress being now in session at this capital, I have had great pleasure in making known to them this manifestation of Your Majesty's munificence and kind consideration.

Under their directions the gifts will be placed among the archives of the Government, where they will remain perpetually as tokens of mutual esteem and pacific dispositions more honorable to both nations than any trophies of conquest could be.

 

[stevil]

Your kids only get 2 dolls this Christmas. The convicted felon-in-chief gets a plane.

Yeah, but, only 1 plane. The billionaire president gets only 1 plane, perhaps he should take that as an insult.

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his candidacy for President... So that means in about 30 days, you've had 10 years to get him on something.

Yet here we are, only a scuffed ear and a few charges later, and he's still your president. Might as well give up the fight.

What's meant to be, is meant to be.

Dude. They did "get him on something." 34 somethings actually. He's a CONVICTED FELON. He had at least 2 other active prosecutions against him when a third of the population went insane and elected him for president thereby nullifying those cases.

Our president is a criminal. His entire administration is the epitome of "High crimes and misdemeanors."

 

[Landon Caeli]

Dude. They did "get him on something." 34 somethings actually. He's a CONVICTED FELON.

Yeah, but those are just words... It never stopped him!