Featured Image Credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / Contributor via Getty
US President Donald Trump's new luxury plane has been heavily criticized, as many point out that his acceptance of the 'palace in the sky' actually violates the Unites States Constitution.
While President Trump's return to office this year has predominantly been about saving America money through the new Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he's certainly not shied away from luxury himself.
His election campaign was supported with significant donations from many of the world's richest individuals - with most of them present in the front row at his inauguration - and Trump has even shared 'disturbing' AI generated videos of Gaza where he has his own hotel and golden statue.
The latest in a long line of status objects though is Trump's new $400,000,000 airplane, which is so luxurious that it's been dubbed a 'palace in the sky'. Featuring gold fittings, luxury leather interiors, a huge plasma TV, and even an entire conference room, the president's new vehicle is just about as fancy as you can get while in the air.
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Not only can he use it as his primary mode of transportation during his presidency, but he can also keep it after he leaves office as it was actually a personal gift from the Saudi Arabian government, which might also coincide with Trump's recent push to change the Gulf of Persia's name.
It is indeed the gift-wrapped status of the plane that many have issue with though, and while Trump himself doesn't seem to see the problem, some have even claimed that it breaches the US Constitution.
"Some people say 'Oh you shouldn't accept gifts for the country'," President Trump outlined in a Fox News interview while on board his new plane. "My attitude is, 'Why wouldn't I accept the gift?'"
In response, one popular post on X has outlined: "Because Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the Constitution says you can't. This is why you don't put a convicted felon in the White House."
That particular part of the Constitution is known as the 'Foreign Emoluments Clause', and details as follows:
"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 Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."
This plane falls precisely within the realms of a present from a foreign State, and it's seen as an anti-bribery measure that prevents the control of the president by a foreign entity, or the exchange of a gifts for political gain.
The main caveat here is the part that implies that gifts would be accepted with the consent of Congress, as the Republican party currently controls both the House and Senate, although it's unclear whether it has authorized this particular gift.
