Hypocrite-in-Chief

Bob

Many months ago, I predicted to my sister Cathy, among other family and friends, Donald J. Trump would hate living in the White House, viewing residence inside the historic building as a plunge into a ghetto-like nightmare. He’d feel an urgency to escape such shabby quarters for the splendors of his pampered previous life whenever possible. Yet even I could not have prophesied how often that would be. 

Since Trump assumed the presidency January 20, 2017, he has departed the White House every weekend for his gaudy but opulent private home and club Mar-a-Lago in Florida, from where he can impress other wealthy club members by sharing classified alerts and his texted responses about the misbehaviors of North Korea.

This hypocrite-in-chief often criticized Barack Obama's travel expenses on Fox News and on his Twitter account. Based on an October 2016 Government Accountability Office analysis of White House travel, Trump’s weekend trips have probably cost the federal Treasury about $14 million, exceeding in four weeks the yearly costs of Obama’s trips of $12.1 million, provoking the Washington Post to complain, "the elaborate lifestyle of America’s first family is straining the Secret Service and security officials, stirring financial and logistical concerns in several local communities, and costing far beyond what has been typical for previous presidents."

Perhaps Trump simply feels Americans have been blessed mightily to have him as our president, and we should pay for that privilege. A lot.

Your turn, Cathy….

Cathy's Response

Cathy

Dear Brother,

While it is true that travel expenses incurred by President Donald Trump during the first month of his administration are approaching what former President Barack Obama’s were in a year,  this includes Secret Service protection for Trump’s adult children. I also expect that when Melania and Barron join him in the White House these expenses will greatly lesson.

In comparison Obama’s, vacation expenses over the duration of his Presidency totaled more than $100 million over eight years, averaging 12.5 million per year. The Obama family took vacations to exclusive beaches in New England, private clubs in Key Largo and, of course, luxurious beaches in Hawaii.

Tax- payers picked up the travel expenses, along with $5,000 to $10,000 a night spent on luxury rental properties. The Obamas took 43 vacations and holidays, including annual ski trips. The Obamas took 43 vacations and holidays including annual ski trips. This does not include Michelle’s trips overseas with her mother and daughters. Compared to all the places the Obamas traveled to, Trump is likely saving the Taxpayers money.

In defense of Trump's Mar-A- Lago trips, all have been a working trip. He met and interviewed potential key cabinet members there and met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as. In comparison, Obama’s vacations went mostly uninterrupted.

President Trump has stated that he will refuse the president's annual salary of $400,000. This alone will save taxpayers $1,600,000 over the next 4 years or $3,200,000 over the next eight.

If I can only dream.....