Is Trump at Mar-a-Lago? New Website Says Yes or No, and How Those Tax Dollars Could Be Spent Better.

What Are the Real-World Costs of Trump’s Travels?

Is Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago? That’s the question Americans increasing want answered. Never in modern American history has a president taken so many weekends off, at such a tremendous cost to taxpayers. 

Even before he was a candidate, Donald Trump took every opportunity he could to attack President Barack Obama for playing golf. Trump reveled is pummeling Obama for his once-a-year Christmas vacation family trips to Hawaii, Obama’s birthplace. And as a candidate, the attacks only grew worse, with Trump insisting if he were elected he would never leave the White House.

But all that aside – Americans are used to Trump’s lies and broken promises – the costs are adding up, and fast. Trump’s trips to Mar-a-Lago, his private $200,000 a year members-only club and golf course, have already cost U.S. taxpayers what President Obama spent in two years on personal travel. 

A new website from the Center for American Progress Action Fund answers that burning question, Is Trump at Mar-a-Lago?, tells you what his trips have cost taxpayers, and tells you what those tax dollars could cover.

For example, yes, since yesterday evening, President Trump has been at Mar-a-Lago. So far, Trump’s trips to Mar-a-Lago have cost taxpayers $25 million. What could that cover?

Education for 2000 students for a year

9000 Meals on Wheels recipients

6 years of aid for the homeless

7000 Pell education grants for a year

And more.

It’s important to note that sure, presidents are people too, and deserve some time off. But no president in modern time has taken off as much time as this president, never so early in their term, and never at such great cost to the taxpayers. 

And it’s not just the tax dollars Trump is spending. His administration is historically behind in hiring. He is about to complete his first 100 days with little accomplished. And he is increasingly putting Americans and the U.S. military at risk. 

As NCRM has reported and in an NCRM Editorial Thursday, we noted since last Thursday President Trump has launched 59 Tomahawk missiles into Syria. On Thursday U.S. military forces dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used onto an ISIS stronghold in Afghanistan. Over the past week North Korea, Secretary of State Tillerson, and President Trump have been playing an increasingly dangerous game of nuclear chicken.

Right now, the U.S. military is reportedly prepared to launch a preemptive military strike of Tomahawk missiles into North Korea if Pyongyang continues with its planned nuclear weapons test, slated for some time between now and the end of this weekend.

And President Trump, in his infinite wisdom, is at his golf course this weekend – with no senior staff accompanying him. So if there is any military action this weekend, which has already been threatened by both the U.S. And North Korea, Trump will be without his top advisors and away from the situation room.

Trump’s travels to Mar-a-Lago have real world costs. 

Is Trump at Mar-a-Lago?

Yes.

Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr and a CC license

Photo by 内閣官房内閣広報室 via Wikimedia and a Creative Commons 4.0 international license