By Rick Comfort

You’ve probably heard of the “Emoluments Clause” of the US Constitution. It’s supposed to be one of the checks and balances of the US federal government, and applies to any person holding an “Office of Profit or Trust”and prohibits them from accepting “any present, gift, title, office or emolument of any kind” from any foreign government official without the consent of Congress.

It doesn’t specifically say you can’t take a $400M airplane (like Trump did) but who’s counting!

The key words in that clause are “foreign government”. So when the Qatar government decided to “gift” Trump a $400M airplane, that required Congressional approval. Which they supposedly gave, but who knows if they ever voted on it. Worse yet, Trump gets to keep it when he leaves office!!  That’s a real puzzle. But I guess what is ours is his because he’s the President.

So now back to the Emoluments Clause, Trump’s abuse of it, and his Presidential position and powers.

Let’s start with just how broke he was when he was found liable for sexual assault and ordered to pay millions, and then convicted of fraud in NY Real Estate case and ordered to pay a fine of over $400M. He didn’t have it or have enough cash to post a surety to allow for the appeal of those fines. He had to “borrow”, or whatever, $175M from a friend and still has some outstanding legal financial obligations.

Fast forward to 2022 when Trump formed a super PAC (in the guise of his next Presidential run) that was funded with donations that exceeded $100M and he used it to pay for his legal and other fees.  Not a penny of his own Money was touched, even though he acquired over $1.6B during his first term in office including $160M from foreign business dealings.  He claims that he donates his Presidential salary to charity, but no one knows which charity and it has never been publicly acknowledged.

Trump 2.0 has been very busy. His Crypto currency ventures have added $7.5 BILLION to his financial worth, of which $1.8B came from gifts and sale of his Trump merchandise — all while being President.  So much for the Emoluments Clause!!

But there’s more. Look at all those trips abroad, Ireland, Scotland, Saudi Arabia, India, Indonesia etc. EVERONE of them had a business connection for Trump, but WE the taxpayers paid for them!

Scotland: New real Estate approved at his golf courses.

Ireland: Same as Scotland and added a new course.

Suadi Arabia: $40-50M investment in Trump real estate developments there.

India: Multi-million $$ investments in Trump properties. Same in Indonesia

All this activity, plus his World Liberty Financial crypto trading floor gives him a new net worth $7.3Billion! No other President in history has used his Office to propel himself to such wealth!

Now he is bombing row boats and sabre rattling with Venezuela about bogus drug deals while pardoning some nasty folks, including a Honduran drug king! (Editor’s Note: How much did he get paid for that and all of his other questionable pardons?)

This is what he does, and NO ONE is watching!! No scorekeeper can keep track of the shenanigans; there are just too many, and he is king of diversion. Let’s hope those 20% of independent voters realize he’s a bum, out for himself and could care less about them or anyone else. He just creates one ‘crisis’ after another.  Just keep watching, and when you see something, say something!

A graduate of Rider College, Rick Comfort is a JFK Democrat who worked on Kennedy’s campaign as a teenager and was a member of the Young Democrats of NJ that worked for Gov. Richard J. Hughes’ campaigns. A police officer during the tumultuous 1970’s, Rick began a career in the automotive industry with a major fortune 100 company in Marketing Communications and Operations. After retiring, Rick formed Comfy Consultants, providing marketing support and implementation to the automotive industry.

Bob Gatty Author, Podcaster, Blogger

For many years, Bob Gatty worked as a writer, editor, and communications consultant, based on the Washington, DC area with a focus on government and politics. He began at The Pittsburgh Courier, an African American weekly, covering crime and the courts. His salary was $55 per week before moving on to two local Pennsylvania dailies. At age 24, he began reporting for United Press International covering state politics in Pennsylvania and then New Jersey, where he was UPI’s state capitol bureau in Trenton.

Tempted by the allure of Washington, DC and big-time politics, at age 29 Bob became press secretary and chief of staff for two Congressmen – first Republican Edwin B. Forsythe, and then Democrat James J. Florio, who later became governor of New Jersey and until his recent death was a frequent podcast guest and co-host of Bob’s NFN Radio News podcast (now called Lean to the Left).

After seven years on Capitol Hill, Bob opened a communications business in Washington, first providing political media consulting to candidates and then freelance Washington coverage for business and trade magazines, plus creative communications services for trade and professional associations, including social media. This work involved articles and analyses of key governmental developments affecting businesses, such as the food and Health industries, retailing, and the environment.

His work as a communications consultant to trade and professional associations included launching and editing association publications, providing website content and social media assistance, and covering conferences and conventions.

Bob retired from G-Net Strategic Communications in 2016 and moved to Myrtle Beach, SC, where he launched his blog site, first called Not Fake News, now known as Lean to the Left.

Hijacked Nation
In August, 2020, Bob and co-author Chris Waldron, one of Lean to the Left's most loyal and prolific contributor, published "Hijacked Nation-Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness," a two-volume compilation of blogs regarding Trump's presidency and the consequences for our nation. A followup volume was published by Luna Global Media in September 2024. It is available at https://amzn.to/4ePrTF7 .

In all three volumes, blogs from Not Fake News and Lean to the Left create a virtual play-by-play of key actions of the Trump administration and Congress. For more information, please visit https://leantotheleft.net/books/, and visit Bob's Author's Page on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bob-Gatty/author/B08C7HWXZ5?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=4e603563-7251-4074-b54d-40800c4ce40a.

The Lean to the Left Podcast
The Lean to the Left podcast provides commentary and interviews with newsmakers and others with interesting stories to tell. Video and audio podcasts stream twice weekly on major channels. More info at https://podcast.leantotheleft.net.

The Lean to the Left YouTube Channel
You'll find all of the audio tracks for the Lean to the Left Podcast here plus original videos, including complete video versions of each podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/@LeantotheLeft.