‘How Many Times Are You Gonna Ask Me the Same Question?’ House Republican Exasperated by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins interrogated Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) for nearly six minutes about President Donald Trump’s decision to accept a $400 million Boeing 747-8 from the Qatari royal family. Trump said he plans to use the plane as a replacement for Air Force One, but will keep the plane after he leaves for his presidential library, which does not yet exist.

The move is ethically suspect, particularly considering Trump’s business dealings in the small Gulf kingdom. Last month, Eric Trump visited Qatar to meet with officials to discuss a proposed $5.5 billion Trump Organization golf resort in the country. The president’s decision to accept the plane has been met with criticism from liberals and Republicans alike. This week, he will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

On Monday’s edition of The Source, Collins, who was reporting from Riyadh, interviewed McCormick and asked him solely about the plane, repeatedly. Toward the end of their interview, McCormick grew tired of the grilling and asked the host, “How many times are you gonna ask me the same question?”

Here is their conversation:

COLLINS: So, it’s great to have you here, Congressman, as we’re waiting for the president to arrive here in Riyadh. On what we mentioned at the top of the show, that CNN confirmed yesterday, this major gift that the United States is going to be accepting from Qatar, a free luxury jet, is that something that you personally are comfortable with?

MCCORMICK: It’s just kind of something that new came up. I haven’t really evaluated it in a historical concept. I know there’s a bigger gift in, I think, than we’ve ever gotten before, but I’m sure that we’ll run it through the legal course to make sure that it’s not gonna be something nefarious. Each country is gonna try to woo us in different ways. I think this is just an opera of friendship, but I am sure it’ll have to be legal if we’re gonna accept it.

COLLINS: Do you think it’s ethical for the president to accept a $400 million plane from the Qataris, who you just heard in his first term, he accused them of sponsoring terrorism?

MCCORMICK: Oh, I haven’t heard that exactly, but I can tell you that if it’s unethical, that will be up to the people to decide, or the president to decide. But it’s a matter of if it is illegal. If it gives undue influence, I think Qatar has been a good actor in some ways in negotiating with foreign entities both on our side against us and basically being the conduit to try to get hostages back. I think they want to be friends. I think it want to economically advantageous to both of us. If you look at President Trump and what he’s done foreign policy wise, I’d argue that he’s probably one of the most effective. People in actually a peace process, mainly the Abraham Accords, what he’s done for the Middle East and the peace process economically, militarily. I think you could make arguably a case that he’s been the most effective foreign policy president in the Middle East.

COLLINS: But to the heart of this matter, I mean you can make that argument, obviously the Abraham cords were a defining moment of the first Trump term, but are you as a sitting member of Congress personally comfortable with this notion, regardless of whether it violates the emoluments clause or if it’s ethical, you personally, if this came up for a vote in Congress, would you say yes to it?

MCCORMICK: I don’t think it’s going to come down to a vote. It’s not either going to be illegal or illegal. I don’ think Congress, by the Constitution, is in charge of a budget, not in which gifts the president can accept. I think that’s a lawyer. I’m not a lawyer, I’m a doctor. I’m in Congress. We’re not going to vote on this. They’ll come up whether it’s acceptable or not, that’s going to remain to be seen. What I’m really worried about is the peace process, what’s going on in Israel, why it happened, how do we mitigate that from happening again? How do we tie ourselves economically to countries that will be friendly with us for generations to come? That’s really important to me.

COLLINS: But Congressman, actually if you read the emoluments clause, it says no person holding any office shall without the consent of Congress accept of any president of any kind, whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state. I mean it actually does directly have to do with the consent of Congress, sir.

MCCORMICK: So historically, I’m curious, yeah, you’re the reporter. Could you tell me if every get-pre-order receipt from the Middle East had been voted on? Because I don’t remember that at all. So I’m just asking for- I’m saying this-

COLLINS: I’m saying this is the emoluments clause. I mean, typically, presidents are not supposed to accept gifts from foreign leaders.

MCCORMICK: But I know we have, though, historically, we’ve accepted guests from all over the world. The question is, is there a monetary value on that? I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer. I’m sure we’ll look into it. If it’s illegal, we won’t do it.

COLLINS: Can you think of one situation from a past U.S. President, Democrat, or Republican who has accepted a gift this large from a foreign government? I can’t.

MCCORMICK: Oh never this large, of course not, but that’s not the question. The question isn’t how large it is, is it legal? Is it something we voted on before? Is it our president? But you’re avoiding the question, which is what is a bigger deal right now? Is it the peace process? Is it economic tying of Israel to Arab countries that are friendly to the process? They’re going to be our allies into the future. They’re gonna have this incredible impact on getting hostages back and settling what’s going on in Gaza. Those are the bigger issues. The plane will settle itself. I mean, that will work itself out. I’m not going to make a big deal out of it because that’s something new. We haven’t even really considered yet, but I’m really worried about the peace process and what we do economically going forward.

COLLINS: Yeah, I don’t think the peace process has to do with whether or not the Qataris are gifting the United States a plane.

MCCORMICK: Exactly. Thank you for agreeing with me on this. That’s exactly it my point. That’s exactly my point. Yeah, thank you.

COLLINS: I’m saying it’s not impeding it. My question is separate, it’s whether or not you are ok with it.

MCCORMICK: I got it. I think I answered that question pretty clearly.

[CROSSTALK]

MCCORMICK: I think we’ll decide over time. I’m sure there’ll be lawyers take a look at it, make sure there’s nothing wrong with it, nothing illegal. If we have to vote on it, we’ll vote on. And then we’ll see. But I think it’s something that’s new. It’s a concept that, yeah, $400 million aircraft, that’s an expensive gift, I get it. But also it’s not on a taxpayer. Will it be something that is gonna have nefarious software on it or something like that? That’s gonna have to be accepted or evaluated. But right now it’s just not the forefront of this issue.

COLLINS: Is that a concern, a concern that you have?

MCCORMICK: How many times are you gonna ask me the same question? I think I’ve answered that question thoroughly now.

COLLINS: You raised the question, Congressman, about whether or not it was something you’d have to be concerned about once it’s turned over to the Defense Department. Congressman Rich Mcormick, thanks for your time tonight.

MCCORMICK: Thank you.

Watch above via CNN.