Rahm Emanuel says he refused bribes from Saudi Arabia when with Obama
Former White House chief of staff and Democratic politician Rahm Emanuel says he turned down bribes from the Saudi government while traveling to the country on a state visit with then President Obama.
'The White House has a for sale sign on the front lawn,' Emanuel said while appearing on ABC's 'The View' in reference to President Trump's acceptance of a jet from Qatar. 'Look, I'm from Chicago, we got a low bar. This is a cash and carry business over at this White House.'
Emanuel then recalled a visit he made to Saudi Arabia alongside Obama, under whom he served as chief of staff.
'When I went to Saudi Arabia with President Obama, first trip, first thing. We're at the king's ranch for his horses. And let me just say, the horses look better than section eight public housing in America. You get there and walk in the room and there was an ostrich briefcase. I open it up, diamond necklaces, earrings, bracelets,' he said. '… and I took a photo and I sent it to my wife Amy and I said, not happening.'
Emanuel's comments were first highlighted by Mediate.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have suggested Trump's acceptance of the jet could pose a threat to national security, or undermine American foreign policy.
Trump has defended his decision to accept the free jet, telling reporters he would have been 'stupid' not to take Qatar up on the offer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
17 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Defying Trump, National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet is still at work
President Donald Trump's latest attempt to assert control over an elite American cultural institution has turned into a high-stakes Washington stand-off. In defiance of Trump's announcement last Friday that he was firing her, Kim Sajet — the director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery — has continued to report for work, conducting meetings and handling other museum business as she did before, according to several people familiar with her activities who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel matter. Writing on Truth Social, Trump had declared he is firing Sajet because she 'is a highly partisan person' and because she is a 'strong supporter of DEI,' a reference to diversity, equity and inclusion. He said her replacement would be named shortly. Trump has not provided a legal reasoning to support his authority to fire Sajet. Two top congressional Democrats have asserted the president does not have legal authority for the firing. In a joint statement, House Administration Committee ranking Democrat Joe Morelle of New York and House Appropriations Committee ranking Democrat Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut said: 'President Trump has no authority to fire employees of the Smithsonian Institution — including the Director of the National Portrait Gallery. The dismissal of Director Sajet is unacceptable and has the same legal weight as the President's prior attempts to undermine the Smithsonian's independence: absolutely none. Should the White House require a copy of the Constitution, we would be more than happy to provide one.' Sajet's refusal to abide by Trump's decision sets up a test of the bounds of presidential authority over the Smithsonian, a sprawling complex of 21 museums, 14 education and research centers and the National Zoo. It is not a traditional government agency nor part of the executive branch, and hiring and firing decisions have historically been handled by the Smithsonian's secretary, rather than its Board of Regents. The Smithsonian's current secretary, Lonnie G. Bunch III, is widely expected to discuss the president's attempt to oust Sajet when regents meet next Monday. In an only-in-Washington twist, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. — who has been presented with major questions at the Supreme Court regarding the limits of presidential authority since Trump took office — is the chancellor of the Smithsonian and a member of its board. A Trump White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Smithsonian spokesperson declined to comment. In February, Trump made another foray into American arts when he took over control of the Kennedy Center, dismissing his predecessor's appointees to its board, who then installed him as chairman and replaced the institution's director with a political ally with scant experience in the arts. The Smithsonian differs from the Kennedy Center because presidents don't appoint members to its board, which is composed of a mix of officials from all three branches of government and members of the public. But Trump is not without allies on the Smithsonian board, including Vice President JD Vance who, like Roberts, is an ex-officio member. Trump's move against Sajet follows an executive order he issued on March 27 titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,' which aims to 'restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness.' A 35-year-old special assistant and senior associate staff secretary, Lindsey Halligan, was among the order's architects — instigated, in part, by her early-2025 visit to the show 'The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture,' an exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which shares a building with the Portrait Gallery. The order calls for Halligan and Vice President JD Vance to 'remove improper ideology' from the Smithsonian and 'prohibit expenditure on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race.' 'President Trump's attempt to fire the National Portrait Gallery Director is outrageous and represents yet another disturbing example of his relentless effort to control American art and culture,' said Rep. Chellie Pingree (Maine), ranking Democrat of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees the Smithsonian, in a statement. 'Despite what the President may think, America's cultural institutions are not run by dictatorial impulses.' On Tuesday a White House official provided The Post a list of 17 instances in which, the White House argued, Sajet was critical of Trump or outspoken about her support for diversity, equity and inclusion. The list included her donations to Democratic politicians and advocacy groups; a social media post praising Anthony Fauci; the caption for the museum's presidential portrait of Trump mentioning his two impeachments and 'incitement of insurrection' for the events of Jan. 6, 2021; and numerous quotes from interviews in a variety of publications about her efforts to represent a broad swath of Americans within the gallery's walls. One item on the list was a quote in a 2019 USA Today story about Black artists demanding representation in American artistic institutions: 'We owe it to Americans to reflect them because we owe it to accurate history,' Sajet says. 'I'm not interested in only having a museum for some people.' The list additionally took issue with remarks Sajet has made in support of the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements, and criticism of Columbus Day and her rejection of one artist's 2016 portrait of Trump as 'too political.' It notes that Sajet has commissioned artworks about Mexican immigration and 'the complications of ancestral and racial history.' It was critical of her 2013 decision to use '50 percent of all money spent on art' to 'support diverse artists and portrait subjects.' Since its founding 179 years ago, the Smithsonian, which receives about 60 percent of its budget from federal appropriations and grants, has generally operated independently, although there have been several controversies in which museums have altered exhibitions in response to outside criticisms, including from politicians. Museum directors, such as Sajet — holders of some of the most prestigious positions in American arts — are not paid with federal funds, instead drawing their salaries from the Smithsonian's trust fund. Hours after Trump's post, Bunch told Smithsonian staff in an email obtained by The Washington Post that the White House also sent new details of proposed cuts to the institution's budget, slashing it by 12 percent and excluding funding for its Anacostia Community Museum and its forthcoming National Museum of the American Latino, Bunch said. On Saturday, at the Portrait Gallery and SAAM's joint family Pride celebration, a trio of visitors strolled the central courtyard in neon vests emblazoned with 'Hands off the arts' on the back — closely watched by a Smithsonian staff member, who hovered nearby. 'I'm outraged' by Sajet's firing, said Karen Nussbaum, 75, of Washington. 'There's a place for a political expression in art, but not political control of art.' 'I think the next step is controlling what artists think and do,' said Cynthia Cain, 60, of Washington, 'and that's not acceptable.' Sophia Nguyen and Janay Kingsberry contributed to this report.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former Lexington councilman enters 6th district congressional race
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — A second Democratic candidate is joining the field for Kentucky's 6th district congressional race. Former Lexington Councilmember David Kloiber said that it's his record as a job creator that he believes will make him the most qualified candidate in the race, and that he wants to make the place he lives the best for his family. 'I've made jobs in the agricultural sector, industrial, and commercial. I really am just focused on trying to take those same skills and bring them to bear here in government, for the benefit of everyone living here,' Kloiber said at his announcement on Wednesday at a local print shop. Rep. Ryan Dotson enters Kentucky's 6th Congressional District race The Lexington native manages his family's non-profit foundation and previously started his own software company. The former councilman was last on the ballot in 2022, when he challenged Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, picking up just under 30% of the vote. It's a race, Kloiber said, that was a learning experience that allowed him to connect with more voters. He said the pillars of his platform are creating jobs, healthcare, housing, and education. 'I'm going to spend the next few months traveling the district, hearing from residents, incorporating their experiences, their problems, and their solutions into a comprehensive common-sense plan,' Kloiber said. Kloiber joins former State Representative Cherlynn Stevenson in the Democratic primary. Stevenson shared the following statement with FOX 56 in response to Kloiber's campaign announcement. Now more than ever, we need greater participation in our democratic process and more folks who are excited about public service. I look forward to sharing my vision with communities across Central Kentucky, listening to every voter, and staying laser-focused on the campaign — the same winning formula that helped me flip my Kentucky House seat in 2018 and the same one I'm bringing to Kentucky's 6th Congressional District. Cherlynn Stevenson Laurel County driver in deadly head-on crash enters plea Attorney questions indictment of former Ky. sheriff in judge's death, moves to dismiss New mobile resource coming to Kentucky communities in need of healthcare The statement went on to highlight a recent ratings shift from 'Solid Republican' to 'Likely Republican' in the Center for Politics' analysis of the race, calling Stevenson a 'credible recruit.' The primary election is set for May 19th, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Midway's Legacy: White House Honors Historic Battle Amid Rising Tensions
President Donald Trump marked Wednesday's 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Midway, calling the 1942 naval clash a 'watershed moment' that turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific. The White House released a statement commemorating the battle in June 1942 that decimated Japan's carrier fleet. The anniversary comes as the U.S. strengthens Pacific alliances to counter growing Chinese military assertiveness. Trump emphasized how former enemies have become partners, with Japan now a cornerstone ally. 'The epic Battle of Midway stands to this day as a glorious reminder that, even in the face of long odds, perilous danger, and tremendous uncertainty, no challenge is too great for the strength of the American spirit,' the President said. He honored servicemembers who 'secured victory over tyranny in the Pacific 80 years ago.' The battle marked a stunning reversal after months of Japanese victories. Following Pearl Harbor's devastation in December 1941, Imperial forces swept across the Pacific, capturing the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore. By the summer of 1942, Japan targeted Midway Island—a strategic outpost 1,000 miles from Hawaii. They planned to destroy America's remaining Pacific fleet and launch deeper offensives. But American codebreakers cracked Japanese communications, giving Admiral Chester Nimitz crucial intelligence. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered Nimitz to prepare the battered fleet for a decisive confrontation. On June 4, U.S. carrier planes struck at dawn. American forces under Admirals Jack Fletcher and Raymond Spruance fought relentlessly despite facing superior numbers. Within 24 hours, they sank four Japanese carriers and a heavy cruiser. The losses shattered Japan's offensive capabilities and began America's island-hopping campaign toward Tokyo. The Presidential message noted the transformation since the 1945 surrender. 'The United States and Japan have forged an enduring partnership built on the shared values of freedom, sovereignty, and an abiding commitment to peace across the Indo-Pacific,' it read. That partnership faces new tests. Trump cited threats from China and North Korea as reasons for continued U.S.-Japan cooperation on 'safety, security, prosperity, and liberty.' The President's message reflects broader administration efforts to strengthen Pacific alliances. Still, the Midway anniversary serves as both a historical remembrance and a contemporary reminder of American resolve in the region.
