From Lions to Jewelry, Emoluments Are not New

The Constitution prohibits the president receiving the $400-million "flying palace" unless Congress approves of it. ... And we are hardly hearing of anyone in Congress (not even a Repub) venturing forward to sponsor a bill making it legal.

Still, there are citations to be found of presidents who have accepted "emoluments" (gifts) from foreign governments. Martin Van Buren was gifted a pair of lions by the Sultan of Oman, but Congress made him give them back. Abraham Lincoln received an elephant from the king of Siam. Barack Obama received $1.3 million in jewelry from Saudi Arabia ...
But it remains that the Constitution prohibits such gifts. That should be our concern regardless how many examples there are.