GRIFTERS
‘Privileged White Greed’: Internet Destroys Pence for Staying at Trump’s Ireland Hotel – 180 Miles Away From His Meeting
The White House is scrambling to defend Vice President Mike Pence‘s decision to stay at President Donald Trump‘s hotel in Ireland while meeting with that country’s leaders – 180 miles away. Pence will be using Air Force Two as a shuttle between the Trump International Golf Resort in Doonbeg and Dublin. American taxpayers will be footing the bill every step of the way for the VP, countless Secret Service agents, and presumably White House aides – with a large portion of the likely multi-million dollar trip landing in the president’s pockets.
One Georgetown professor posted a map showing where Pence will be staying and just how far that is from where his meeting will be:
While in Ireland, VP Pence is staying in Trump’s golf resort. Which is in Doonbeg (red pin).
His official duties are in Dublin, which is literally the opposite side of the country.
Apart from enriching the President, what is the purpose of running up taxpayer costs like this? pic.twitter.com/30QyxI5WXb
— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) September 3, 2019
Outrage online has been so palpable Pence Chief of Staff Marc Short was forced to address the scandal.
After the president lauded the resort and stayed there earlier this year revenue increased. Short was asked by reporters if Trump directed his Vice President to stay at the Trump-owned property which is has been facing financial difficulties.
“I don’t think it was a request, like a command,” Short told reporters, as NBC News reported. “I think that it was a suggestion.”
“It’s like when we went through the trip, it’s like, well, he’s going to Doonbeg because that’s where the Pence family is from,” Short said before describing the president’s suggestion. “It’s like, ‘Well, you should stay at my place.'”
“It wasn’t like a, ‘You must,'” Short continued, fielding 17 questions about the Doonbeg decision from reporters. “It wasn’t like, ‘You have to.’ It’s a facility that could accommodate the team. Keep in mind, the Secret Service has protected that facility for him, too, so they sort of know the realities, they know the logistics around that facility.”
Pence’s wife, sister, and mother are also joining him, but The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman reports Short says the Vice President is “personally paying all family expenses.”
President Trump has visited Trump properties almost 300 times since being sworn in in January 2017, with taxpayers footing the bill.
In August Trump repeatedly pushed for the annual G7 meeting to be held at his Miami golf resort next year. Hosting such an event would likely pour millions into the president’s pockets.
This CNN Legal Analyst offered his take:
In the mafia there’s a concept known as “kicking up” or “paying tribute” to the Boss – lining the Boss’s pockets to keep him happy. The Boss doesn’t have to explicitly ask; it’s understood.
Now we’ve got both @VP Pence and AG Barr spending thousands patronizing Trump hotels. https://t.co/8XKgnco8lt
— Elie Honig (@eliehonig) September 3, 2019
Here’s what some others are saying about Pence staying at Trump Doonbeg:
This is “tit for tat”. And it’s exactly what Michael Cohen testifies to during Congressional hearing.
DJT says things in a way that lets you know exactly what he expects.In modern business world its otherwise known as “Harassment in the workplace”. Bullying!
— Al Wayward (@Wayward888) September 3, 2019
Fleecing the nation for privileged white greed
— MikeB (@MBoyus) September 3, 2019
“Not only is federal money spent at Doonbeg, it gives the business a high-profile advertorial platform to attract customers.” I hope you are adding this to emoluments violations in impeachment articles, @SpeakerPelosi . @TheDemocrats https://t.co/dFMUmG2o9o
— Cheryle Johnson (@CheryleJ0806) September 3, 2019
two questions for a congressional oversight committee
1) How much will the decision to commute by air between Trump property and Pence’s appointments in Dublin cost the taxpayer?
2) How much will the (troubled) Trump property in Ireland be paid by the taxpayer? https://t.co/S1s7CzOHWK
— David Frum (@davidfrum) September 3, 2019
Getting Pence & team to stay at the Trump property on Ireland’s west coast & commute daily to & from the meetings on Ireland’s east coast —all to line Trump’s pocket — isn’t just a waste of tax $. It violates the Article II Domestic Emoluments Clause. @RepJerryNadler @RepRaskin
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) September 3, 2019
Vice President Mike Pence is staying at Donald Trump’s golf resort in Doonbeg during his visit to Ireland, even though it means flying 140 miles to Dublin for his meetings.
Because this administration is about nothing if it’s not about making Trump money.https://t.co/8GsVlvzyK2
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) September 3, 2019
wait, the good news is that Pence entourage will be **paying Trump** to stay at his resort? https://t.co/QEcl2bxjTW
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) September 3, 2019
Doonbeg is almost 300km (nearly 200 miles) away from Dublin for those who don’t realize.
Instead of staying in a hotel in Dublin and not FLYING across the country in a helicopter, Pence will stay in Doonbeg, and get Trump paid for staying there..The Trump grift is real. pic.twitter.com/zSk70cMZID
— Zack (@kodkod87) September 2, 2019
What about the Secret Service and choppers and added travel? Taxpayers will cover those. Oh, and by "personally paying" Short means Pence, like William Barr, is PUTTING MONEY IN THE PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY'S POCKETS. Turns out there is royal tribute and all Republicans must pay. https://t.co/VcKG0wc1gr
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) September 3, 2019
#TuesdayThoughts #TuesdayMotivation #TuesdayMorning
Trump’s Doonbeg Resort needs $ so Trump is making Pence stay there. Pence’s meetings are a 3 hour drive so, at tax payer expense, he’s flying AF-2 for 20 minutes back and forth, costing millions. https://t.co/VmQy3muzjb— Diane Toucan (@DianeToucan) September 3, 2019
This is not ok. It is grift. #impeachtrump and Pence too. https://t.co/V5onblLTEJ
— HeyitsLola (@LolaSweet) September 3, 2019
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Image via Twitter
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