1. United States
2. Neb.
3. Letter

Congress must take decisive action to uphold the Constitution and hold the president accountable for violating the Emoluments Clause by accepting an extravagant gift from a foreign government. The $400 million luxury jet from Qatar is a clear case of an unconstitutional foreign emolument that represents a profound conflict of interest and betrayal of the president's sworn duty. It is time to start standing up to this administration instead of cowering in fear. Congress works for the people, not the president. The Emoluments Clause prohibits federal officials from receiving gifts or benefits from foreign states without congressional approval. Legal experts like former White House lawyer Norman Eisen have rightly called this a blatant violation that follows a pattern of Trump's defiance of ethics rules. Even some Republican allies have voiced concerns about the questionable optics and potential security risks of relying on a foreign aircraft for presidential travel. This brazen disregard for constitutional constraints cannot go unchecked. Congress has an obligation to assert its authority as a co-equal branch and reiterate that no one is above the law.