George Washington saw Trump's plane gift from Qatar coming 250 years ago
The founders didn't foresee flight — but they knew a throne when they saw one. And to this George Washington scholar, Qatar's $400 million jet gift to President Donald Trump reads like a punchline 250 years in the making.
Patriots fought against unchecked power, foreign entanglements, self-dealing and a ruling class blind to suffering. King George III and Parliament enriched themselves while ordinary people struggled. Palaces, ceremonial coaches, gilded thrones — these weren't luxuries colonists enjoyed. They were obstacles to the earliest articulation of the American Dream.
In 1787, the Constitution's framers gathered in a sweltering room in Philadelphia to design a government that wouldn't collapse into monarchy or rot with foreign influence. They wrote the emoluments clause — Article I, Section 9 — which they saw as a firewall. It forbade federal officials from accepting gifts or titles from foreign states without congressional consent.
The logic was simple: no monarchies by stealth, no subtle realignments of loyalty. If a prince gives you a jet and you take it, you owe him — even if you pretend you don't. In the founders' eyes, it's more than improper. It's a betrayal. They didn't fight a king just to watch a president accept a sky-high royal estate — or what Donald Trump calls a write-off.
The early republic was on high alert for anything that resembled aristocratic excess.
George Washington warned of 'the insidious wiles of foreign influence,' calling it 'one of the most baneful foes of republican government.' His successors remained hypersensitive: Thomas Jefferson returned a diamond-studded snuff box from the French ambassador on constitutional grounds and warned that the presidency could devolve into elective despotism. John Adams was publicly dragged for his taste in carriages, so his son, John Quincy Adams, surrendered horses and gilded gifts to the State Department rather than risk the appearance of impropriety.
This Congress — stacked with elected officials who swore to uphold the Constitution — hasn't cried out, but the first one would have. When John Adams suggested calling the president 'His Majesty, His Highness, the President of the United States of America, and Protector of Their Liberties,' Congress balked. Too monarchical. Too much. Too soon. They didn't need to be reminded, as the 119th Congress so often does, that patriots waged a brutal eight-year war on domestic soil to get out from under a crown.
This week, NBC News' Kristen Welker asked Trump whether, as president, he would uphold the Constitution. 'I don't know,' he replied. Fifty-three Republican senators refused to comment. Only Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul spoke up — on social media, naturally — reminding us that 'Following the Constitution is not a suggestion.'
When referring to the document you swore to defend is treated as political bravery, we're already in trouble. But doing nothing? That's permission. This Congress isn't just tolerating the jet. It's underwriting the decay that made it possible.
What Trump is doing is anti-constitutional — not 'unconstitutional,' a term we apply to so many of his official acts, as if they exist in a gray area of vague corruption that might be defensible. In reality, it violates the independence that was supposed to anchor the presidency.
Thomas Jefferson didn't fear a tyrant who seized power. He feared one who bought it with borrowed luxury.
And yet here we are. A $400 million soaring throne room from an authoritarian monarchy to a man who treats the Constitution like a nuisance. Trump's plane joins a long list of foreign giveaways he — or rather, his friends, family and future presidential library — have accepted: Saudi cash funneled through his hotel lobbies, Chinese patents fast-tracked for Ivanka, a $2 billion investment from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund to Jared Kushner's firm shortly after he left the White House, and so many more.
It's classical corruption: the decay of the body politic, the collapse of civic virtue, the slow confusion of public service with personal reward.
The founders fought for more than a break from monarchy — 1776 was the beginning of the American Dream. Not golden thrones, but ordinary people having a chance to get ahead. Trump's flying palace doesn't just violate the Constitution. It mocks the idea entirely.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Army veteran joins anti-ICE protest in Dallas and ‘calls on conscience' of fellow service members
A uniformed U.S. Army veteran has provoked anger among MAGA conservatives by joining a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Dallas, Texas, on Monday. In a viral video recorded at the event, the soldier does not hold back in her criticism of President Donald Trump for activating 4,000 members of the National Guard and 700 Marines to help police the anti-ICE demonstrations that have raged in Los Angeles for five days and have since spread to other major American cities. 'We are not pawns for Donald Trump's agenda,' the woman, wearing a camouflage uniform bearing the name tag 'Colado,' says in the video shared by left-leaning X account BreakThrough News. BREAKING: After Trump deployed Marines to LA, this military member joined an anti-ICE protest in Dallas, declaring, 'We won't be pawns in stripping away constitutional rights.' — BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) June 11, 2025 'Why now?' she continues. 'It's because the military was called upon against the protesters. In our oath to serve, we serve the people of the United States, the Constitution. These constitutional rights are being stripped and just denied. 'And the military will not be pawns to that. That's why I'm calling on the conscience of military members who served previously and now. We have a conscience, we have a mind and we have a duty, a moral obligation to say no and resist.' The Independent has contacted the Pentagon for its response to her comments. Online, conservatives wasted no time in calling for the woman, subsequently identified as Carmen Colado, a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst, to be dishonorably discharged or court-martialled for publicly criticizing the commander-in-chief's orders. Some argued that her actions constituted a violation of the U.S. military's Uniform Code of Military Justice and called for Article 15 to be invoked against her, which empowers a commanding officer to order nonjudicial punishments less severe than a court-martial. These might include restrictions on duty, extra duty, forfeiture of pay, and, in some cases, confinement; however, since Colado appears to have left the service, it is unlikely to apply. She describes herself on Instagram as the 'proud daughter of an illegal immigrant hero who saved my life' and posts photos of friends and family, poetry, pencil drawings, and even a short film she has directed. Her posts also include an inspirational quote from Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green, who was censured for interrupting President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress earlier this year, on the occasion of a Dallas protest march calling for immigration reform. 'To protect liberty and justice for all – to protect government of the people, by the people, for the people – to protect what this country has in its great and noble ideals, we have to do what is necessary,' Green's quote reads.
Chicago Tribune
6 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
LA police enforce downtown curfew as protests continue against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police swiftly enforced a downtown curfew Tuesday night, making arrests moments after it took effect, while deploying officers on horseback and using crowd control projectiles to break up a group of hundreds demonstrating against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Members of the National Guard stood watch behind plastic shields, but did not appear to participate in the arrests. Chicago protesters march against Trump's immigration crackdown as demonstrations pop up across the countryHours later, many of the protesters had dispersed, although sporadic confrontations continued that were much smaller than in previous nights. Officials said the curfew was necessary to stop vandalism and theft by agitators looking to cause trouble. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier accused Trump of drawing a 'military dragnet' across the nation's second-largest city with his escalating use of the National Guard. He also deployed Marines, though none were seen on the streets Tuesday. Newsom asked a court to put an emergency stop to the military helping federal immigration agents, with some guardsmen now standing in protection around agents as they carried out arrests. He said it would only heighten tensions and promote civil unrest. The judge set a hearing for Thursday, giving the administration several days to continue those activities. The change moves troops closer to engaging in law enforcement actions like deportations as Trump has promised as part of his administration's immigration crackdown. The Guard has the authority to temporarily detain people who attack officers but any arrests ultimately would be made by law enforcement. Trump has activated more than 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines over the objections of city and state leaders. They were originally deployed to protect federal buildings. Demonstrations have spread to other cities nationwide, including Dallas and Austin, Texas, Chicago and New York, where a thousand people rallied and multiple arrests were made. In Texas, where police in Austin used chemical irritants to disperse several hundred demonstrators Monday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's office said Texas National Guard troops were 'on standby' in areas where demonstrations are planned, Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said Tuesday evening. Guard members were deployed to San Antonio, according to assistant police chief Jesse Salame. He said he did not know how many were sent or details on the deployment. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency on the fifth day of protests and said the curfew will run from 8 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday. She said it was expected to last for several days. 'We reached a tipping point' after 23 businesses were looted, Bass said during a news conference Tuesday. The curfew covers a 1 square mile (2.5 square kilometers) section of downtown that includes the area where protests have occurred since Friday. The city of Los Angeles encompasses roughly 500 square miles (1,295 square kilometers). The curfew doesn't apply to residents who live in the designated area, people who are homeless, credentialed media or public safety and emergency officials, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. McDonnell said 'unlawful and dangerous behavior' had been escalating since Saturday. 'The curfew is a necessary measure to protect lives and safeguard property following several consecutive days of growing unrest throughout the city,' McDonnell said. Trump left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, which authorizes the president to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations. It's one of the most extreme emergency powers available to a U.S. president. 'If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We'll see,' he said from the Oval Office. Later the president called protesters 'animals' and 'a foreign enemy' in a speech at Fort Bragg ostensibly to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. Trump has described Los Angeles in dire terms that Bass and Newsom say are nowhere close to the truth. In a public address Tuesday evening, Newsom called Trump's actions the start of an 'assault' on democracy. 'California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next,' he said. Newsom warned people against inciting violence, but urged them to stand up to the president's actions. 'What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty, your silence. To be complicit in this moment,' he said. 'Do not give it to him.' The protests began Friday after federal immigration raids arrested dozens of workers in Los Angeles. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend, and police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. The demonstrations have been mostly concentrated downtown in the city of 4 million. Thousands of people have peacefully rallied outside City Hall and hundreds more protested outside a federal complex that includes a detention center where some immigrants are being held following workplace raids. Despite the protests, immigration enforcement activity has continued throughout the county, with city leaders and community groups reporting ICE present at libraries, car washes and Home Depots. School graduations in Los Angeles have increased security over fears of ICE action and some have offered parents the option to watch on Zoom. McDonnell said that police had made 197 arrests on Tuesday, including 67 who were taken into custody for unlawfully occupying part of the 101 freeway. Several businesses were broken into Monday, though authorities didn't say if the looting was tied to the protests. The vast majority of arrests have been for failing to disperse, while a few others were for assault with a deadly weapon, looting, vandalism and attempted murder for tossing a Molotov cocktail. Seven police officers were reportedly injured, and at least two were taken to a hospital and released. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested Tuesday that the use of troops inside the U.S. will continue to expand. The Pentagon said deploying the National Guard and Marines costs $134 million.
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lawmakers in France back bill to tackle fast fashion's environmental toll
The legislation targets the curtailment of fast fashion trends and aims to control the surge in market volumes and associated detrimental effects in France. The bill seeks to bolster awareness among consumers in France regarding the ecological consequences of fast fashion, while also promoting options for clothing reuse and repair. The proposal looks to broaden the scope for adjusting eco-contributions based on the ecological footprint of garments. It also includes provisions to ban advertisements from firms and products that are linked with fast fashion practices. A total of 337 senates voted in favour of the bill with only one dissenting vote on 10 June 2025. The bill was proposed by member of parliament Anne-Cecile Violland and several of her colleagues. It was passed by the National Assembly on 14 March last year. The Senate's Committee on Regional Planning and Sustainable Development examined the bill in the same month. The legislation is not yet finalised, as a joint committee of senate and national assembly members is scheduled to convene from September to create a unified version before the law's ultimate ratification. Notification to the European Commission is also required prior to the final endorsement to ensure compliance with EU regulations. Globally, the apparel industry sees over 100 billion pieces of clothing sold each year. France has experienced a significant increase in clothing sales over the past decade, with an additional one billion items pushing the annual total to 3.3 billion products, equating to more than 48 items per person. The textile and fashion sector is a major contributor to environmental concerns, accounting for roughly 10% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions—surpassing the combined emissions from all international flights and maritime shipping. Facing this intense competition, France's traditional clothing industry is under pressure. In light of climate change commitments, there is a pressing need to revert to sustainable levels of production in the industry. The Textiles Industry Union in France labelled the bill "a first step" and expressed hope for its "rapid adoption," despite it not fully meeting their expectations. Following recommendations from the Committee on Regional Planning and Sustainable Development, the French Senate has refined the definition of fast fashion to legally solidify the framework. The amendments include promoting product repairability and specifying regulations for online marketplaces. The senate also aims to enhance consumer awareness messages by including information about the social impacts of products. To achieve these objectives, the senate has resolved to redirect funding towards recycling operations within France, rather than supporting collection and recycling infrastructure abroad. This move is intended to bolster domestic recycling capabilities. It also seeks to adopt a more balanced strategy that is less punitive regarding fast fashion advertising. This includes banning influencers from promoting fast-fashion items, as they are currently key marketing channels for such brands. Additionally, it mandates concise environmental impact disclosures in advertising content for fast-fashion products. "Lawmakers in France back bill to tackle fast fashion's environmental toll" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
