Kevin O'Leary Orders Abby Phillip To Shed Her 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'
'Shark Tank' star Kevin O'Leary is having a moment as a conservative antagonist on CNN's 'NewsNight With Abby Phillip.' (Watch the video below.)
O'Leary on Tuesday took issue with panelists upset over President Donald Trump's desire to accept a $400 million jet as a gift from Qatar that he would use as Air Force One.
The deal has been deemed an ethical concern thatappears to violate the U.S. Constitution's clause about receiving gifts from foreign governments.
'What does this have to do with Middle East policy?' O'Leary, who goes by the nickname Mr. Wonderful, blurted out. 'What does this have to do with the fact that he is trying to create a circle of friendship with the fastest growing geographies in the world before China does?'
'Who cares about the plane?' he asked later. 'Why focus on something that is irrelevant?'
'Kevin, the United States Constitution would like to have a word,' Phillip said, repeating herself for good measure. 'That's why people care, because the reason that that's in the Constitution is to prevent the president of the United States from accepting things that are being perceived as bribes.'
'What is the goal of the trip?' he asked, referring to Trump's current visit to the Middle East.
'The goal of the trip is not to get a giant gift that he can say belongs to him as president but then he takes with him when he leaves the office,' Phillip answered. (The jumbo jet would later be transferred to the Trump presidential library, according to the administration's plan.)
'Abby you have to distance yourself from Trump Derangement Syndrome,' O'Leary snapped. 'It's irrelevant to policy. It doesn't matter.'
'Have you heard of the emoluments clause?' Phillip shot back amid cross talk. 'Do you understand that that is in the Constitution?'
O'Leary likened the argument to debating how many fairies dance on the head of a pin.
'I focus on policy,' he said after pushback from Karen Finney. 'It's policy, policy, policy.'
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