General

A history of barbecue in Alabama: Iconic restaurants, sauces and origins

Barbecue is an oft-discussed topic in Alabama, where people like to debate who makes the best and which sauce is tastiest. One thing we don’t typically argue about in the South is the definition of “barbecue:” It does not mean a gathering at which grilled foods are served, or the appliance on which the food is grilled.

Here in Alabama, “barbecue” is the meat that’s cooked over the fire, whether it’s barbecue pork, beef, chicken or any other kind of meat.

Origins

Where does the word “barbecue” come from? An article on Culinary Lore claims it comes from “the Caribbean Taino Indians, who cooked on high wooden racks above burning wood.” The racks were called barbacoas.

An article on the Encyclopedia of Alabama quotes food writer Robb Walsh, saying “this method of cooking was first brought to the Carolinas by African slaves in the seventeenth century. Easy to raise and fatten, pigs became the most popular choice of meat for southern barbecuers.”

According to the appropriately named Fred Sauceman who wrote the Encyclopedia of Alabama article, the “southern barbecue belt” is made up of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Sauceman, an author and associate professor at East Tennessee University, defines the barbecue belt as “a string of states whose styles of barbecue have influenced one another over the years.”

In this state, the fire used to cook the barbecue is usually fueled by hickory, oak or pecan.

“Across Alabama, smoked pork – chipped, chopped, and sliced – is piled on hamburger buns and often topped with coleslaw, with dill pickles added as a defining condiment,” Sauceman said.

Types of BBQ in Alabama

As with many iconic foods in the South, the popularity of barbecue arose during difficult financial times – it was an inexpensive way to make even cheap meats flavorful. That’s one reason barbecue flavorings, sauces and cooking techniques are so varied.

“Alabama lies between the barbecue poles of Memphis and the Carolinas,” Sauceman wrote in his article. “In northern Alabama, vinegar-based sauces akin to those in eastern North Carolina are found, but they become scarce south of Birmingham. Variations of tomato-based sauces that bear a kinship to those served from Memphis to eastern Tennessee are served throughout the state. In eastern Alabama, mustard, a South Carolina influence, finds its way into spicy sauces, often in combination with tomato products.”

White sauce is unique to Alabama, he said. It was created at Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur in 1925.

“One emblematic aspect of Alabama barbecue is a white sauce of mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt.”

A 2017 AL.com article by Matt Wake says no one can say for sure how Gibson created the now-iconic sauce but Chris Lilly, head chef of the Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q Competition Cooking Team, gave one explanation. “His chickens sometimes stayed on his pit for three hours,” Lilly said. “When you’re pulling a pit of chickens you’ve got to have some way to keep those chickens moist. Keep them from drying out. And I think that’s where the mayonnaise came from. The fat in the mayonnaise basically used as a buffer against the chicken drying out once it came off the pit.”

Alabama barbecue has widespread influence, according to Sauceman. “It is both urban and rural, black and white, tomato-sweet and vinegar-sour, pulled and chopped. It is cinder-block simple and strip-mall slick. A product of the working-class culture of the mills and factories, integrating all, it is one of the state’s most unifying and enduring symbols.”

Alabama’s oldest barbecue restaurants

Below are some of Alabama’s longest-operating barbecue restaurants, in chronological order from their date of founding. They have all been inducted into the Alabama Barbecue Hall of Fame.

• Golden Rule Bar-B-Q, founded 1891 in Irondale.
• Dobb’s Famous Bar-B-Que, founded 1910 in Dothan.
• Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, founded 1925 in Decatur.
• Brenda’s Bar-B-Que Pit, founded 1942 in Montgomery.
• Carlile’s Barbeque, founded 1945 in Birmingham.
• Barbeque Hut, founded 1946 in Heflin.
• Cotton’s Barbecue, founded 1946 in Eclectic.
• Lannie’s Bar-B-Q Spot, founded 1946 in Selma.
• Mud Creek Fish Camp & Bar-B-Que, founded 1946 in Hollywood.
• Atkins Barbecue, founded 1947 in Eutaw.
• Dick Howell Barbeque Pit, founded 1947 in Florence.
• The Hilltop Grill, founded 1951 in Union Springs.
• Leo & Susie’s Famous Green Top Bar-B-Q, restaurant opened 1951 in Dora; began serving barbecue 1973.
• Old Greenbrier Restaurant, founded 1952 in Madison
• Top Hat Barbecue, founded 1952 in Hayden.
• Dick Russell’s Famous Bar-B-Q, founded 1954 in Mobile.
• Gibson’s Bar-B-Q, founded 1956 in Huntsville.
• Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q, founded 1957 in Bessemer.
• Dreamland Bar-B-Que, founded 1958 in Tuscaloosa.
• Mary’s Pit Bar-B-Que, founded 1958 in Gurley.
• Rocket Drive Inn, founded 1958 in Jacksonville.
• Demetri’s BBQ, founded 1961 in Homewood.
• Archibald’s Bar-B-Q, founded 1962 in Northport.
• Johnny’s Bar B Que, founded 1963 in Cullman.
• Brooks Barbecue, founded 1965 in Muscle Shoals.
• Whitt’s Barbecue, founded 1966 in Athens.

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General

Ziploc bag lawsuit: Popular kitchen item hit with class action suit over safety claims

The maker of a popular kitchen has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging it falsely labeled products that exposed people to microplastics.

According to AboutLawsuits.com, Ziploc plastic bags were marketed as “microwave safe” and “suitable for freezer use,” when using them in these ways could potentially release dangerous microplastics.

The lawsuit by a California woman claims some of the bags made with polyethylene and polypropylene release microplastics under extreme temperatures created by freezers or microwaves. Microplastics are small plastic pieces of less than 5 millimeters that can be harmful to humans, oceans and aquatic life.

Microplastics have been linked to cognitive and behavioral issues, infertility and reproductive complications and cancer.

According to the suit, the product labeling creates a “reasonable impression that they are fit for use in the microwave and freezer” but adds, “In reality, these products are made from polyethylene and polypropylene — materials that scientific and medical evidence shows release microplastics when microwaved and frozen — making them fundamentally unfit for microwave and freezer use.”

Ziploc is owned by S.C. Johnson. The lawsuit specifically mentions several products:

• Ziploc Freezer Bags Pint/Small, Freezer Bags Quart/Medium and Freezer Bags Gallon/Large

• Ziploc Slider Freezer Bags Quart/Medium

• Ziploc Slider Freezer Gallon/Large Bags

• Ziploc Slider Storage Bags Quart/Medium

• Ziploc Slider Storage Bags Gallon/Large

• Ziploc Containers

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General

Why does Alabama’s GOP chairman have a Tennessee driver’s license?

This is an opinion column.

Stories involving Alabama Republican Party chairman John Wahl tend to wind up in strange places.

Like, how did a butterfly farmer — real thing — become one of Alabama’s most powerful political figures?

Or how can someone vote with an ID they made themselves — also real — and not wind up in jail?

As party chairman, John Wahl has direct influence on major GOP decisions, and sometimes final say — for instance, whether Tommy Tuberville meets Alabama’s residency requirements to run for governor.

And now it turns out, John might not even be his real name. For most of his tenure as Alabama GOP chairman, he has had a Tennessee driver’s license under the name Nehemiah Wahl and is registered to vote there, too.

I warned you — strange places, and the trip from here to there can sometimes veer in bizarre directions, too. This jaunt begins on I-65.

A 2023 traffic ticket, obtained by AL.com, shows that John Wahl gave an Alabama State Trooper a Tennessee driver’s license with the name Nehemiah Ezekiel Wahl.

Tennessee voter records also show that Nehemiah Wahl registered to vote there in December 2020, the same year John Wahl successfully ran to represent Alabama as an elector in the Electoral College.

How could it be that Alabama’s Republican Party chairman uses a Tennessee driver’s license? And why would he be registered to vote there under this different name?

Last week, I asked Wahl by text — his request — whether Nehemiah was his real name, whether he had ever gone by Nehemiah and whether, as I had been told, he had given the name Nehemiah to get past U.S. Secret Service to visit Donald Trump during last year’s Alabama-Georgia football game.

“You shouldn’t believe everything you hear,” he said. “I don’t know who or what your sources are, but you have some bad information.”

After I let him know I had found that old speeding ticket and Tennessee voter registration, he wrote back.

“My first name is Nehemiah, and that’s not something I have ever tried to hide,” he said. “Many people, especially public figures, don’t use their first names or choose to go by nicknames. I have gone by John since my childhood, and that’s how everyone knows me.”

It’s not something he ever tried to hide, except for hours earlier when he told me my information was bad.

His name appears as John Wahl on Alabama election records, candidate filings, ethics disclosures and Alabama’s certification to the 2020 electoral college.

In fact, until the Ethics Commission changed its form in 2022, that agency also gave officials a special space for sharing nicknames so people could tell state Sen. James Thomas Waggoner and “Jabo” are the same person or that Rep. Mark Tuggle is sometimes called “Snuggles.”

Wahl never used that space, nor did he ever give a middle name, only John Wahl.

Alabama election records show he has consistently voted here under the name John Wahl, not Nehemiah.

I’ve looked and looked, and the only public records I’ve found where he used his real name were those in Tennessee.

In his reply to my follow-up questions, Wahl said he had intended to move to Tennessee in 2020 but never did full-time. But he did get a driver’s license there as Nehemiah Wahl. He is also registered to vote in Tennessee under that name, although election records show he hasn’t cast a ballot there.

And when he decided to stay in Alabama, he said, he didn’t get around to updating his license.

“The layers of disruption caused by COVID also made it difficult to obtain a replacement Alabama license,” Wahl wrote. “I acknowledge that I procrastinated on resolving this issue. I received a speeding ticket in April 2023, which served as a much-needed reminder to update my license. After that, I obtained an Alabama driver’s license, which I currently hold.”

This isn’t the first time Wahl has had issues with government ID — for instance, when voting.

In 2022, a Limestone County poll worker objected to Wahl and his extended family refusing to show driver’s licenses to vote. According to emails between Wahl and election officials, obtained by AL.com, Wahl pressured local election officials to have the poll worker removed, which they did.

That poll worker and another told me Wahl had shown them what appeared to be a state employee ID that they hadn’t seen before.

Later, John Wahl admitted to me that he had made the ID himself.

Is it strange that the Alabama GOP chairman has such trouble abiding by the state’s voter ID law when his party considers such a law necessary to prevent fraud? You might think so, but the party has never demanded he answer for it.

To the contrary, the state party has reelected Wahl chairman since then, and the Republican National Committee has chosen him to serve as vice chair for its southern region.

John Merrill, who was the Alabama Secretary of State back then, said Wahl’s homemade ID was not a legal form of voter identification under Alabama law. Merrill and his successor, Wes Allen, have both forwarded complaints about Wahl’s ID to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who has taken no action.

But why wouldn’t Wahl have a valid voter photo ID?

According to a 2016 deposition given by John’s brother Joshua Wahl, their family believed that biometric identification, including government photo IDs, was the Mark of the Beast foretold in Revelation.

“In particular, I object to the biometric nature of IDs in Alabama which started pursuant to the REAL ID Act,” Joshua Wahl testified. “And there’s a passage in Revelations 12 where it says that the forthcoming mark of the beast will be a number of a man. Biometrics by its nature is a number of a man. You know, that’s what makes me uncomfortable, and that goes against my convictions.”

Tennessee, unlike Alabama, has allowed those with religious objections to apply for driver’s licenses without photos.

“Is that what this is all about?” I asked in another follow-up text.

“My driver’s license has my picture on it,” he replied.

Here’s the thing I still don’t get. In 2022, Alabama’s GOP chairman refused to show a driver’s license to vote. He now says he had one, but it was from a state where he never lived full-time and he didn’t bother to get a new one in Alabama until at least a year later, because he procrastinated and it was a lot of trouble because of COVID.

Instead, as he has admitted before, he made his own ID. Because that was somehow easier?

No one likes trips to the DMV, but this is something different.

This is every story about John … err … Nehemiah Wahl — a game of bumper cars that never goes where you expect and leaving everyone with whiplash.

Why does all of this matter?

Wahl’s name has been floated as a possible candidate next year for Alabama lieutenant governor. As with the governor, the residency requirement to run for that office is seven years preceding the election.

While John Wahl might meet that requirement, Nehemiah Wahl might not.

But even if Wahl sits this election out, he wields significant power and authority.

In Alabama, a party chairman has remarkable power for someone who never has to appear on a ballot. In fact, under state law, it’s the chairs who give the state the names of their party nominees.

That includes Tommy Tuberville, who has multiple properties in Florida and residency questions of his own to answer. It’s Wahl’s job to vet Republican candidates, to make certain they are who they say they are and that they live where they say they live.

But how can we trust a man with a Tennessee license to decide who lives in Alabama?

Kyle Whitmire is the Washington watchdog columnist for AL.com and winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize. You can follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X , Threads and Bluesky.

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‘This is what life is about:’ How 1 family plans to manage a state title baseball series, wedding in same weekend

After nearly a year of planning her middle son’s rehearsal dinner, Trisha Johnston felt like everything was under control.

Until Saturday.

Youngest son Tate Johnston is the starting shortstop for the St. Paul’s baseball team, which clinched a spot in this week’s Class 5A state finals with a doubleheader sweep of Elberta over the weekend.

“Two once-in-a-lifetime events,” Trisha Johnston said.

The only problem?

The two events – at least parts of them — are taking place on the same day in two different towns in Alabama.

“It’s insane this is happening the way it is, but with our family who would expect anything different?” she said. “It just seems weirdly right.”

The Johnston family has been well known in statewide high school athletics for a decade. Oldest son Tyler III was the state’s Mr. Football in 2015 after leading Spanish Fort to the Class 6A state title. Middle son Thomas, a standout linebacker for the Toros, is the state’s all-time leading tackler. He was the 6A lineman of the year in 2016.

On Saturday night, Thomas – now an assistant football coach at Prattville High School — will marry Parish Adams in Troy.

“She’s awesome,” Tyler said. “I definitely think she’s the right girl for Thomas, and Thomas is the right man for her. It should be a great weekend.”

When Thomas and Tyler were helping Spanish Fort win three state football titles in four years, Tate — 10 years younger — was watching from the sidelines and playing on youth fields around Baldwin County.

Now, it’s Tyler and Thomas who are cheering on their brother.

“The last three weekends, I’ve been at every game,” Thomas said. “Tate is more of a natural athlete than Tyler and I ever were. His goal was to make a state championship and get a ring or two. I’m happy he’s finally getting that chance.”

Tate, a junior who leads off for St. Paul’s, is committed to play baseball at Auburn. He’s also receiving considerable interest as a multi-talented athlete for Ham Barnett’s football team.

“It’s the best feeling watching him,” Tyler said. “Having a brother who is 10 years younger … hopefully, we made him tougher than when we were younger. Honestly, I just tell him to go be better than both Thomas and I. He’s just out there having fun and loving the game. I’m a proud big brother. I’m also proud for Thomas and Parish. I’m excited to get a sister. This week … it’s a lot to take in.”

Trisha said she has allowed herself to relax a little more watching Tate play sports than she did a decade ago with her older sons. But “relax” might not be in her vocabulary this week.

No. 4 St. Paul’s opens play in the 5A state finals against No. 2 American Christian at 11 a.m. Thursday at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park.

Not too many conflicts there.

However, the series shifts to Jacksonville State on Friday for Game 2 at 10 a.m. Game 3 would follow, if necessary, at approximately 1 p.m.

Uh oh.

The wedding rehearsal for Thomas and Parish is set for 6 p.m. Friday with the dinner at approximately 7. As is customary, of course, the parents of the groom usually handle the rehearsal dinner details. This particular rehearsal dinner has 140 guests.

Jacksonville is approximately 165 miles from Troy. The mileage calculator estimates the trip to take 3 hours, 12 minutes.

“I’m putting full reliance on Jesus,” Trisha said. “He knows these are two significant events for our family, and I’m just going to believe it’s all going to be perfect.”

Two family members are hard locks to be at the entirety of the St. Paul’s series no matter how many games it takes. Tate, obviously, and dad Tyler Jr., who is also Thomas’ best man.

“I’m not missing,” Tyler said. “I just hope we don’t get rain.”

Trisha’s plan, as of now, is to make the baseball series as well and then get to Troy as soon as possible. In the meantime, she will rely on an army of family and friends to make sure everything is in place for the rehearsal dinner. That army includes her sister-in-law, Jenger Campbell, and close family friend Brian Ward.

“They’ve told me that I can’t miss this for Tate, and that they’ve got this (the rehearsal dinner),” Trisha said. “What a blessing.”

Thomas is likely out for attending the baseball series. Not only does he have the rehearsal on Friday, but he also is coaching in Prattville’s spring game Thursday night at 5:30.

“It’s all going to be OK,” Thomas said. “Dad definitely won’t be missing baseball. Anyone who knows him knows that. Mom is so invested in the rehearsal that I don’t see her missing that, but she has a lot of help thankfully, and it will go off without a hitch. I’m not going to be upset at anyone being there for Tate. At the end of the day, I would love to be there myself, and Parish would say the same thing.”

As of Sunday, Tyler III, also one of Thomas’ 15 groomsmen, wasn’t sure what his plans will be. He works in the Gulf Coast area and lives in Mobile.

“I’ll just wing it,” he joked.

The biggest concern, according to the parents, is having a possible weather issue on Friday. How things have changed.

“My biggest concern two weeks ago was getting the wedding party back in time from the rehearsal to be seated for dinner when the sun sets,” Trisha said. “Little did I know, now we’ll be lucky to actually make the dinner.”

As for the father, Tyler Jr. is not concerned at all about any conflicts – or at least that is what he says.

Maybe this time father really does know best.

“This is what life is about,” Trisha said. “Family and friends who come together to support one another. When you have that – you feel so blessed, and we are so thankful.”

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General

Layoffs reported as contract ends on chemical plant expansion project in Alabama

More than 140 workers are impacted by a German specialty chemicals company’s decision to end its contract in Alabama with an industrial manufacturing company.

A recent notice filed with the state says 143 workers in Theodore near Mobile were laid off starting April 16. The notice appears to have been filed by the contractor, Bilfinger Inc. on May 7, per the Alabama Department of Commerce website.

Spokespeople for Bilfinger and the Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Evonik, the German company that operates the chemical plant in Theodore, confirmed it recently ended a contract at the site of a plant expansion project. In 2022, Evonik announced plans to invest nearly $177 million in expanding the plant to support its animal nutrition business. That includes building an additional plant at the site, bolstered by state incentives. It was originally slated for completion by the end of 2024. On Monday, the company confirmed with AL.com that its expansion is still in progress.

“Evonik utilized a third-party contractor for project-specific work at the facility in Mobile, Alabama,” the company said in a statement. “To ensure strategic project goals, Evonik recently terminated the relationship.”

The company employs more than 700 workers, separate from the impacted contract workers, Evonik confirmed.

“Evonik has not laid off employees in connection with this project,” the company said.

It’s unclear if the contract employees will be rehired by a new contractor at the same site, or placed elsewhere.

Evonik manufactures specialty chemicals for products including structural foams for aircraft, amino acids for optimized livestock farming, coating additives for wind turbine blades, and catalysts for biodiesel production.

Federal law requires large employers to file a public WARN notice with the state in advance of mass layoffs or plant closures. Those WARN notices are published by the Alabama Department of Commerce.

The expected job cuts bring Alabama’s tally of employees impacted by mass layoffs and closures in 2025 to more than 2,700 – already surpassing the count for last year.

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General

There’s a big change at Starbucks starting this week

Starbucks’ new employee dress code has officially gone into effect.

Axios reports May 12 was the first day for the new dress code.

Starting today, Starbucks baristas will be required to wear a solid black top and any shade of khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms. The coffee chain will also provide baristas with a new line of company-branded t-shirts.

Prior to the dress code, employees could wear any color top, reports Axios. Baristas could also wear gray and brown pants.

“By updating our dress code, we can deliver a more consistent coffeehouse experience that will also bring simpler and clearer guidance to our partners, which means they can focus on what matters most, crafting great beverages and fostering connections with customers, ” the coffee chain said in an April press release.

The new dress code is one of several changes Starbucks is implementing this year in an effort to get back to its “community coffeeshop roots.” In January, the coffee chain announced a number of new policies, including a new code of conduct.

Starbucks also started offering free refills this year.

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General

MLB Rivalry Weekend: Tickets to Yankees – Mets series going for under $100 on Vivid Seats

The MLB is testing out a new way to engage fanbases this season, introducing the inaugural ‘Rivalry Weekend.’ Taking place this weekend from May 16-18, teams across the league will take part in three-game series against their crosstown rivals.

The New York Yankees and New York Mets are set to be a part of Rivalry Weekend, with three games taking place at Yankee Stadium. Fans looking to attend can find tickets for under $100 on Vivid Seats.

More tickets to Friday’s opening game can be purchased through Stubhub and Seatgeek, with their prices starting at over $100.

Here’s everything you need to know before the Yankees and Mets play this weekend:

When: Friday, May 16, 2025

Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Time: 7:05 p.m. ET

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General

Alabama again faces the threat of severe storms: Is relief in sight?

The potential for a few severe storms has been (again) added to the forecast for northern Alabama on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service thinks storms will be more likely this afternoon and evening.

Forecasters will be watching to see if clusters of storms develop to the west in Mississippi and track eastward into Alabama starting this afternoon.

The strongest ones could again bring wind gusts up to 60 mph, hail and heavy rain. The tornado risk is low but not zero.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has added a Level 1 out of 5 (marginal) risk to the forecast for most of north Alabama and the northern part of central Alabama for today.

A Level 1 risk means that isolated severe storms will be possible.

No severe weather is expected in south-central or south Alabama today, but there could be showers and thunderstorms.

Rain and storms will be possible for most of the state through the day today, but the best chances for those stronger storms will begin this afternoon.

A flood watch has been allowed to expire for central Alabama but heavy rain will be possible in the state at times today, which could lead to localized flooding.

But there’s good news for those sick of the rain: Drier weather is expected to make a comeback starting on Wednesday.

Rain chances will drop dramatically tomorrow, and temperatures are expected to start climbing.

Here are the expected rain chances from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday:

The weather is expected to stay drier through Thursday, but rain chances could return starting on Friday in northern Alabama and Saturday for the rest of the state.

So far the Storm Prediction Center has only included a small part of northwest Alabama in a general severe weather risk for Friday.

Here’s the outlook for Friday:

Another frontal system is expected to stall over the region, which could lead to heightened storm chances, forecasters said.

The weather service will be watching to see where the front goes over the weekend. Forecasters said if the front stays to the northwest of Alabama, it would increase the state’s chances of seeing additional days of severe weather.

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General

Country music stars in war of words over $350 million label deal, song pulled

Zach Bryan and John Moreland are feuding. As a result, Bryan pulled a song the two country music stars worked on from his streaming service.

Moreland, who worked with Bryan on “Memphis; the Blues,” a song off the “Great American Bar Scene” album took a shot about Bryan’s deal with his Warner Music label deal and an agreement to sell his publishing catalog.

He posted to his Instagram Stories, per Taste of Country, that read “$350M is a lot of money to pay for the fu–kin off-brand version of me.”

Bryan shot back on his Instagram story.

“Yooo just saw this from an artist I’ve always respected and supported,” he posted. “Not trying to be dramatic but refuse to have anyone with a problem with me on my records.

“No hard feelings! Confused as s–t, Tulsans look out for Tulsans.”

Moreland then returned fire, suggesting he didn’t know who Bryan was prior to working with him.

“(I) didn’t have the great impression, but it was no big deal, whatever,” Moreland posted.

“I don’t like this motherf–ker. … If I was asked to be on the album today, I wouldn’t do it.

“I don’t wanna be on an album who is a d–khead to my wife and my friends right in front of me every time I see him.

“I don’t wanna be on an album with a dude who I’ve heard tell borderline racist jokes more than once. I don’t wanna be on an album with a dude who brings a 19-year-old girl in the bar, and then when they tell him she can’t be in there, looks at me like I’m supposed to have his f–king back.”

He then added one more shot:

“As far as I’m concerned, getting kicked off a Zach Bryan album is way f–king cooler than being on a Zach Bryan album.”

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JD Crowe: Trump’s $400 million bribe from Qatar is just plane corruption

This is an opinion cartoon.

The Constitution (Article I, Section 9) prohibits anyone in the US Government from receiving a personal gift from a foreign head of state without the consent of Congress.

The luxury Boeing 747 is not a gift to America from Qatar. It’s a gawdy grift plane to Trump. A bribe. It’s just plane ol’ corruption.

Trump is giddy to replace the 40 year-old Air Force One with this new golden hog ‘flying palace.’

Since Trump likes to rename things, let’s call his new $400 million toy ‘Air Farce One.’

Excerpts from Howard Koplowitz’s AL.com report:

President Donald Trump turned to social media to defend Qatar offering him a 747 aircraft to be used as Air Force One, saying “crooked Democrats” opposed to the gift are “world class losers.”

The ruling family of Qatar is set to give Trump the 747-8 jumbo jet during his trip to the Middle East this week, according to the Associated Press, and U.S. officials say it could be converted into a potential presidential aircraft.

ABC News, which broke the story, reported the aircraft has an estimated value of about $400 million and is sometimes called a “flying palace.”

The Qatari government said a final decision hadn’t been made. Still, Trump defended the idea — what would amount to a president accepting an astonishingly valuable gift from a foreign government — as a fiscally smart move for the country.

Several Trump critics blasted the president for his intent on accepting the gift, claiming it violates the emoluments clause of the Constitution preventing him from profiting off of his presidency.

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., tweeted that accepting the gift is tantamount to “corruption.”

Schiff’s tweet:

“Article I, Section 9, Clause 8:“no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State. Seems pretty clear that a $400 million “air palace” from a foreign emir qualifies. The corruption is brazen.”

Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., agreed.

“Accepting a free plane from Qatar isn’t just outrageous, it’s corruption, plain and simple,” he tweeted. “Anything less is a flagrant violation of the President’s oath of office and a profound betrayal of the public’s trust.”

Read all of Koplowitz’s report here.

Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler at [email protected].

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