CNN host uses GOP senator’s own words against him as he downplays Trump’s 'transactional' Qatar gift

CNN chief investigative correspondent Pamela Brown tried to take Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) to task on his inconsistency regarding the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, particularly as it pertains to a $400 million luxury plane gifted personally to President Donald Trump by the royal family of Qatar.

“When you were on the show with me a couple months ago, you said, ‘I believe in the Constitution', and as you know, the Constitution says no officeholder may accept a gift from a foreign state without congressional approval," Brown began. "Why should Trump be allowed to take this plane? Don’t you have any issues [with this]?"

"I don't think it's a personal gift,” said Zinke, who serves in the House Appropriations Committee. “I think it's government to government.”

“But is that a workaround?” asked Brown. "Because he said it's going to go to the Trump presidential library after?”

“Well, we'll see where it goes,” said Zinke, in contradiction to the fact that Trump confirmed he would give it to his presidential library after leaving office rather than leave it to the next president when his term ends. Trump assured reporters he would not be using the plane after he leaves office, however.

Zinke deferred to U.S. AG Pam Bondi, a Trump nominee who vouched for the legitimacy of the gift, despite the Constitution's transparency about what constitutes a “gift.” Bondi argues the donation is going through the Department of Defense and is therefore legal, despite Trump being the primary beneficiary of the luxury “palace in the sky” plane, not the U.S. Army.

“I’m glad Pam Bondi stepped in and looked at it from a legal point of view, which is helpful,” Zinke said before dismissing the gift as a consequence of Trump’s expensive tastes. “Remember, who President Trump is. He's a billionaire businessman from New York. He doesn't sleep in a sleeping bag overnight.”

But Brown did not accept that answer.

“You were a former navy seal. Do you have concerns about the fact that even President Trump has said Qatar has had relations with terrorist group, Hamas, which is why [right-wing influencer] Laura Loomer and others are speaking out.”

“…[D]oes it provide leverage with the Qataris? I don't think so with this president,” said Zinke, who refused to answer if he would feel this way under a Biden presidency. “But, you know, [Trump’s] making deals. And I think it's transactional to him. He looks at it and goes, ‘hey, it's a better airplane.’ His comment was, ‘you'd be stupid not to take it.’ I think that's from a business point of view because he is a business guy.”

Watch the video below or at this link.