12 May—Qatar wants to give Donald Trump a stretched 747 (probably with gold chemical toilets) and Trump has no intention of declining the illegal gift. Of course. And it may turn out to be imperfectly legal anyway because Trump’s Republican-majority flunkies in Congress won’t have the integrity or scrotal content to tell him he can’t—and mustn’t—do it.

Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the Constitution—the so-called Emoluments Clause—states in no uncertain terms: “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.”

Remember when the Republicans wanted to draw and quarter poor Joe Biden over son Hunter’s shenanigans that took full advantage of his father’s prominence? What Hunter did and Joe appeared to countenance is really bupkes compared to what Trump’s sons Donald Jr. and Eric are doing with their father’s full approval and likely instigation.

For instance, just last month Eric signed a deal on a $5.5 billion (need it be said luxury?) golf resort in Qatar that will net the Trump Organization—including you know who—millions upon millions in licensing and management fees.

Of course, the timing of the Qatari government’s—i.e., the ruling family’s—$400 million gift to Trump is purely coincidental. Because we know beyond any doubt that Trump’s is not a pay to play presidency. (To even think that would be seditious. So you didn’t read it here.)

But put aside the legality of the gargantuan personal gift, which according to Trump “the Defense Department is getting . . . FREE OF CHARGE,” but will in a few years be given to his presidential library—another topic for speculation, including but in no way limited to the profit the most self-dealing president in history will be making from it.

Any airplane a president flies on becomes Air Force One during that flight. So assuming Trump while president flies on his Qatari gift, it becomes Air Force One. And consider that the Qatari government—i.e., the ruling family—cooperates with Iran, hosts the big kahunas (or whatever they’re called) of Hamas, among other scum of the earth, and bankrolls various atrocious causes.

Thus New York Democrat Congressman Richie Torres puts the “flying grift” eloquently: “Qatar is not a neutral party on the world stage. It has a deeply troubling history of financing a barbaric terrorist organization that has the blood of Americans on its hands. In the cruelest irony, Air Force One will have something in common with Hamas: paid for by Qatar.”

But the ultimate punchline comes from Trump’s sharp-tongued press flunkie Karoline Leavitt. When asked if Trump would be meeting with people having ties to his family’s business on his upcoming (purely coincidental) trip to Qatar and other Gulf monarchies, Leavitt insisted it’s “ridiculous” to think that Trump “is doing anything for his own benefit.”

Who knew Karoline had a fantastic sense of humor . . .