Welcome back to “The Unify Brief,” where we track the latest developments shaping the nation. Here’s what you need to know this week.
Trump to accept jet from Qatar as a gift
President Donald Trump’s plan to accept a $400 million Boeing jet from Qatar to replace the president’s current Air Force One has ignited controversy, raising ethical, legal and national security concerns. Trump defends the offer as a gift and a practical solution amid delays in Boeing’s delivery of a new presidential aircraft. He asserts that the plane would be used temporarily and eventually donated to his presidential library.
Critics argue that accepting such a gift from a foreign government could violate the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits federal officials from receiving gifts from foreign states without congressional approval. National security experts have also voiced concerns about the aircraft’s lack of essential features found in current Air Force One planes, such as secure communications and counterintelligence capabilities. The absence of these features could pose risks to presidential safety and diplomatic integrity.
The controversy is further complicated by the Trump Organization’s business ties in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman, leading to concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Local: Trump’s ‘palace in the sky’ plane gift concerns some Republicans (The Denver Gazette)
National: Trump’s plan to accept free Air Force One replacement from Qatar raises ethical and security worries (AP News)
What other college campuses have to say: As of Sunday, May 18, no college campuses have reported on this development.
SCOTUS blocks Trump from using Alien Enemies Act for deportation
On Friday, May 16, the Supreme Court of the United States decided to temporarily halt the deportation of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a centuries-old wartime law.
In March, President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to authorize the swift deportation of Venezuelan migrants alleged to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang. The administration argued that the gang’s activities constituted an “invasion” against the United States. As a result, over 100 Venezuelans were deported to El Salvador and detained in a high-security prison.
Legal challenges quickly emerged, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocates arguing that the administration’s actions violated due process rights by providing insufficient notice to the detainees.
The Court emphasized that the detainees are entitled to more notice than what was given, allowing them a fair opportunity to challenge their deportations. The justices did not make a definitive ruling on the legality of using the Alien Enemies Act in this context, leaving that determination to lower courts.
Local: Supreme Court blocks migrant deportations under Alien Enemies Act (Denver 7)
National: Supreme Court blocks Trump from restarting Alien Enemies Act deportations
(CNN)
What other college campuses have to say: Harvard Professor Questions Trump’s Alien Enemies Act Application at HLS Talk (The Crimson)
Trump demands Walmart keep prices low amid tariffs
On Thursday, May 15, Walmart announced that it will raise prices across a wide range of products starting later this month following Trump’s tariffs on imported goods. Walmart emphasized that the costs from tariffs are too high to absorb entirely. Items such as electronics, toys, food products and children’s car seats are expected to be affected.
In response, President Trump criticized Walmart on Saturday, May 17, telling the retailer to “eat the tariffs” rather than passing costs onto consumers. He argued that Walmart’s substantial profits should allow it to absorb the tariff-related expenses without increasing prices. Walmart’s leadership, however, maintains that the tariffs have significantly impacted their cost structure and impose financial strain, requiring price adjustments.
While the full economic effects of the tariffs are still unfolding, the immediate consequence appears to be increased prices for consumers on everyday goods.
Local: A rare warning from Walmart during a US trade war: Higher prices are inevitable (Denver Post)
National: President Demands Walmart Keep Prices Low Despite Tariff Costs (The New York Times)
What other college campuses have to say: Trump Tariffs Mean Chaos for Consumers, HBS Professors Say (The Crimson)
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