Congressional Cowards is a weekly collection highlighting the worst Donald Trump defenders on Capitol Hill, who refuse to criticize him—irrespective of how disgraceful or lawless his actions.
Not even accepting a $400 million bribe from a overseas nation is sufficient to get President Donald Trump’s largest supporters in Congress to deviate.
Hardcore Trumpers, in addition to another big-name GOP leaders, refused to get on Trump’s dangerous aspect by saying that he cannot settle for the large, fancy luxurious jet that Qatar’s ruling household provided. Trump instructed folks in personal that he needs the jet as a result of it’s “humiliating” to fly within the “outdated” Air Drive One.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned that “it’s not my lane” to weigh in on whether or not Trump ought to settle for the jet, despite the fact that the Structure fairly actually says that Congress must approve the present.
“Look, I have been a bit busy on reconciliation, so I am not following all of the twists and turns of the Qatar jet. I’ve definitely heard about it. My understanding is it is not a private present to the president, it’s a present to the US, and different nations give us items on a regular basis,” he mentioned at a press convention.
In the meantime, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland mentioned he has “no issues” with Trump accepting the bribe, and Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana mentioned it is okay as a result of Trump is a wealthy man who wants fancy issues.
“He is a billionaire businessman from New York. He would not sleep in a sleeping bag in a single day. He says, ‘Hey, this can be a nice aircraft,'” Zinke instructed CNN.
And Sens. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Steve Daines of Montana are celebrating the bribe—as a result of it’s free.
“You possibly can’t beat free,” Daines mentioned.
“Free is sweet. You recognize, we do not have some huge cash proper now to purchase issues like that,” Tuberville instructed CNN.
After all, it’s not absolutely free, as it could take lots of of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer {dollars} to outfit the aircraft for the wants of Air Drive One.
Then there’s Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, who mentioned he has “zero concern” with Trump accepting the aircraft. And you could possibly virtually hear the wheels handing over Sen. Rick Scott of Florida’s head as he tried to work by way of how he may justify defending Trump on this concern.
“Gosh, let me offer you a aircraft. I imply, that appears fairly good, however they help Hamas, so I do not know,” Scott mentioned.
However whereas various Republicans help Trump in taking the bribe, this concern has gotten extra Republicans than common to criticize Pricey Chief, citing issues with accepting a aircraft from a rustic that has provided funding to Hamas.
“I do suppose the jet in all probability sends the flawed sign, and I do not just like the look or look of it, so I might hope he would reject it. The Structure particularly says you possibly can’t take items from overseas leaders,” Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky instructed Fox enterprise.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia instructed CNN, “I’d be checking for bugs is what I’d be checking for.”
Even Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas isn’t onboard with accepting the jet from Qatar.
“I’m not a fan of Qatar. I believe they’ve a extremely disturbing sample of funding theocratic lunatics who wish to homicide us, funding Hamas and Hezbollah, and that’s an actual downside. I additionally suppose the aircraft poses important espionage and surveillance issues, so we’ll see how this concern performs out however I definitely have issues,” he mentioned on CNBC.
In the meantime, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska mentioned that it could be ridiculous to suppose that the Qataris received’t expect something in return for the large present.
“How many people have truly been provided the promise of a jet? Once you get one thing of that worth from a rustic, one usually thinks that there is one thing in it for the nation that’s providing it,” she mentioned.
And for Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado, the principle concern with Trump accepting a bribe from Qatar is the nation’s ties to Hamas.
“I’ve critical issues with this so-called present from the federal government of Qatar—safety issues, moral issues with this used airplane. But it surely’s additionally a present from a authorities that helps terrorist organizations like Hamas. So, if there have been a Democratic president that was accepting a present like this, we would be outraged. I believe it’s one thing that we should always take a look at fastidiously,” he instructed CNN.
With so many Republicans suggesting that they don’t help Trump’s acceptance of the bribe, it’s unclear whether or not Trump will nonetheless undergo with the transaction.
But when this does go to Congress, which might be constitutionally required to take a vote, it appears to be like exceedingly unlikely that he’d be capable to settle for his valuable aircraft anyway.
