Trump spent a third of his first year as president at Trump properties
By the time President Trump rings in 2018 at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, he will have spent at least part of more than 100 of his first 345 days in office at a Trump property, primarily Mar-a-Lago and a golf club in New Jersey, according to a Wall Street Journal tally. Along with his 40 days at Mar-a-Lago and nearly 40 days in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump has made more than 20 trips to a Trump golf course in Virginia, outside Washington, D.C. (He also golfed 20 times on Trump courses near Mar-a-Lago.)
Trump's air travel alone to Mar-a-Lago has cost the government $6 million this year, according to a review of Air Force records by Judicial Watch; that doesn't include Secret Service or Coast Guard protection, or other costs related to Trump's Florida travels, and the travel costs to Bedminister haven't been disclosed. Former President Barack Obama's eight years of travel for himself and his family cost the government $96.9 million, or roughly $1 million a month, Judicial Watch estimates, including Secret Service protection and other expenses. Trump's air travel to Mar-a-Lago over his first six months averaged $1.5 million a month, the Journal notes.
Trump's travel outside Washington is also unusual in that the Trump properties he stays at are businesses that personally enrich him, largely from other guests paying to stay there or visit. Several of his properties sharply raised fees or rates since he was elected. "George W. Bush went to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, a lot, but it's not like you could rent the bedroom next to his," Jordan Libowitz, a spokesman for the transparency advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) told The Wall Street Journal. CREW sued Trump, arguing that he was violating the Constitution's emoluments clauses, but a federal judge ruled that CREW and its co-litigants could not show they had standing to sue.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
'It may not be surprising that creative work is used without permission'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 simple items to help make your airplane seat more comfortable
The Week Recommends Gel cushions and inflatable travel pillows make a world of difference
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden arrives in Peru for final summits
Speed Read President Joe Biden will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, visit the Amazon rainforest and attend two major international summits
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate GOP selects Thune, House GOP keeps Johnson
Speed Read John Thune will replace Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader, and Mike Johnson will remain House speaker in Congress
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump tests GOP loyalty with Gaetz, Gabbard picks
Speed Read He named Matt Gaetz as his pick for attorney general and Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Both have little experience in their proposed jurisdictions.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published