Donald Trump accused of spending $ 118 million to ... play golf
A steep bill for the American taxpayer. In addition, part of the millions spent would go directly to the Trump company.
Donald Trump's passion for golf is well known. Not only does he own 19 courses around the world, some of which are very prestigious, but the tenant of the White House is a diligent practitioner. But this hobby is expensive, even for a billionaire. Since the start of his mandate, the President of the United States has spent 118.3 million dollars to perfect his swing (movement of hitting the ball with the club), reveals the American edition of the Huffington Post, that is to say as much as his predecessor Barack Obama during his eight years in office. A record set during his 26th stay at his property in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
For comparison, the Huffington Post adds that Donald Trump has now spent the equivalent of 227 days on the greens ... against 88 days for Barack Obama during the same period of his mandate. The sum of 118.3 million represents the equivalent of 296 years of the annual salary of American presidents: 400,000 dollars gross per year.
The bill could turn out to be hefty for American taxpayers: of the 118.3 million spent by the White House, "at least several million" are going straight "into (the company's) Trump's own coffers", notes the Huffington Post. Indeed, during these stays in its hotels and golf courses, board and lodging are provided to Secret Service agents, White House teams and officials who accompany the President.
The Huffington Post is, however, unable to reveal the exact amount "refunded" to the Trump company since "the White House refuses to reveal how many Trump assistants have stayed at his properties" during his travels. In addition, “the administration does not issue receipts for the charges incurred”.
Enrichment at the expense of the taxpayer?
If Trump's "golf budget" is so high, it is also because the president insists on playing on his own courses - mainly in Bedminster, New Jersey, and Florida -. Stays during which "he receives and spends time paying members of the (golf) club whose costs continue to enrich him", underlines the Huffington Post. According to the newspaper, each stay in Bedminster would cost taxpayers nearly $ 1.1 million, and each stay in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, nearly $ 3.4 million.
Most of the time, Barack Obama organized golf trips to military bases near the White House.
