“Trump Accepts Putin's Bribes”: Kyiv Post Columnist's Accusations of Violating the US Constitution

Trump's Peace Council, which solicits funds from foreign governments, clearly violates the US Constitution because it represents a long-prohibited financial advantage, US aerospace engineer Robert Zubrin argues in an editorial published in the Kyiv Post.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin PHOTO Archive

Zubrin accuses President Donald Trump of accepting a “bribe” of one billion dollars from Vladimir Putin through the “Board of Peace”, an entity that would flagrantly violate the US Constitution. The author claims that the funds, promised by the Kremlin in exchange for unblocking frozen Russian accounts, would come under Trump's personal control, turning national security decisions into a private business.

The author begins by referring to an article in the US Constitution, according to which “No title of nobility shall be conferred by the United States, and no person holding an office of profit or trust therein shall, without the consent of Congress, accept any gift, undue benefit, office, or title of any kind, from any foreign king, prince, or state.”

In other words, President Donald Trump is asking foreign governments to contribute $1 billion each for a seat on his new Peace Council (BOP). These funds will not be deposited with the US Treasury. They will be transferred to the council's own bank account, where they will be under Donald Trump's personal control and remain his to spend as he wishes, even after he ends his term, Zubrin said.

He recalls that, so far, the only major power that has accepted Trump's demand for “bribes of billions” is Russia.

“According to media reports, the Kremlin has offered to contribute $1 billion on the condition that its foreign fund accounts, which have been frozen to prevent their use in support of Russia's attack on Ukraine, are unblocked. Asked by a reporter about Putin's offer, Trump said: “He will go into the Peace Council and contribute $1 billion using his own money… That's great.”he writes.

Unlimited power to Trump

According to the council's charter, Trump will be its chairman for life, until he decides to resign. As president, Trump will have the right to overrule any decision made by the organization's Executive Council, including spending or policy decisions, and will also have the power to appoint or remove all other members of the Executive Council, but also, Zubrin says, to “interpret the board's charter as he wishes.”

“Taken together, points 1, 2, 3, and 4 give Donald J. Trump — not the President of the United States, but Trump, and Trump alone — perpetual power to completely control the organization and decide how its money will be spent.”he also writes.

For example, Zubrin argues, if Trump wants to give his organization contracts to build hotels, he will be able to do that. If he wants to pay himself or anyone else favored by him with any amount he chooses, that will be his prerogative. If he wants to use the organization's funds to sue people he hates or to buy property, goods or services for personal use, he will have the power to do so.

“Basically, the BOP's money will be Trump's money. This raises very serious questions that go far beyond Trump's willingness to betray Ukraine”he writes.

According to him, the Constitution explicitly prohibits anyone holding federal office from accepting funds from foreign governments for a very rational reason: It is unacceptable that those who control the American government should be vulnerable to bribery from foreign leaders who may have interests contrary to those of the United States.

“And yet here we are. As president, Trump has the power to make decisions that could profoundly affect foreign interests. Through the Peace Council, he's putting those powers up for sale. It's not just a matter of who gets tariffs and who doesn't — as bad as that might be. There are major national security issues involved.

Russia is not only a threat to Ukraine. Russia has over a thousand nuclear missiles aimed at the United States and poses a clear and immediate threat to our NATO allies. And yet, Trump is willing to unlock the Kremlin's funds on the condition that it donates $1 billion to his BOP “piggy bank”explains the author of the editorial.

Danger for Romania

He claims that this could help Russia conquer Ukraine. If it does, its material and technical war power would be greatly enhanced, the critical strategic weakness on its southwestern border that prevents it from attacking the Baltic states would be eliminated, and its armies would reach the borders of NATO allies Poland, Hungary, and Romania.

Zubrin warns that although Poland could offer a fierce defense of its territory, from this position Russia would not only be able to quickly conquer the Baltic states, but would have an easy route through Hungary and Austria, directly into the heart of Europe.

“Alternatively, perhaps such an extensive invasion would not even be necessary, because after conquering Ukraine and the Baltic states, Russia would certainly commit large-scale massacres – as it did in Syria – with the express purpose of bringing to power anti-immigration puppet parties such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD), France's Rassemblement National and others

Clearly, this cannot be allowed. Nor can Americans allow critical national security decisions to be made under such influences. Congress must step in”he concludes.

Robert Zubrin (born 1952) is an American aerospace engineer, author, and founder of the Mars Society, an international organization that promotes human exploration of Mars. He also promotes the space superiority of the United States, stating that “in the 21st century, victory on land, sea or air will belong to the power that controls space” and that “if we want peace on Earth, we must prepare for war in space.”