President Trump’s weekend vacations to his private club in Florida have cost taxpayers almost as much in a month ($11.3 million) as President Obama’s entire travel spending for a year ($12.1 million).
The Independent reported, The US President’s three visits to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida since his presidential inauguration, combined with his sons’ business trips, reportedly cost $11.3m (£9.1m).Conservative watchdog Judicial Watch estimated Mr. Obama’s travel expenses totaled an average $12.1m in each of his eight years in the White House.”
Back in 2012, Trump expressed outrage over the cost of Obama’s vacations:
President @BarackObama's vacation is costing taxpayers millions of dollars—-Unbelievable!
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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2012
In 2014, Trump tweeted:
Obama’s motto: If I don’t go on tax payer funded vacations & constantly fundraise then the terrorists win.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2014
Not only does Trump cost the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in travel costs, but he is also doing millions of dollars in damage to the local Florida economy when he visits.
As PoliticusUSA reported on Friday, “The head of the Lantana airport warned that if Trump keeps visiting, he is going to kill the airport by costing tenants more that $1 million in lost revenue during his first year in office. Trump’s golf outing with Japanese Prime Minister Abe last weekend cost the airport a combined $250,000 due to flight restrictions. The local government is asking Washington for reimbursement for their own increased security costs, and by reimbursement, they mean you, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer are going to foot the bill.”
These numbers don’t include the number of local businesses that are hurt by road closures and loss of business that is caused by the security restrictions due to Trump’s visits.
Fiscally responsible Americans from all sides of the political spectrum understand that what President Trump is doing is an unnecessary waste of taxpayer money. The President is wasting tens of millions of taxpayer dollars a month, and inventing some very dubious cover stories, like a “campaign rally” to justify his weekend vacations to his private club.
Republicans who complained about the cost of President Obama’s travel have gone hypocritically silent. Trump is doing exactly what Republicans accused Obama of. President Trump is living like an entitled king, while taxpayers are picking up the tap.
It is time for the American people to tell Congress and the White House that they will no longer get stuck with the tab for Trump’s wasteful travel.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
