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Trump's Thansgiving Jaunt Cost $7 Million for Security

Protecting Donald Trump and his entourage grows more expensive daily.

Take his jaunt to his Palm Beach resort for Thanksgiving. NBC News reports it cost taxpayers $7 million:

As the soon-to-be first family sat down in Florida for their Thanksgiving feast, they were watched over by the core part of their new extended family — a contingent of at least 150 Secret Service personnel.

His and his wife's selfish insistence on maintaining two residences with Trump flying to New York on weekends will up the secret service contingent and related personnel to 950 and cause the expense to skyrocket.

Also complicating security arrangements is Melania Trump's decision to stay in Manhattan until Barron is done with school in June. Donald Trump has told his team that he intends to make regular weekend trips home to Trump Tower until his wife moves into the White House. So millions of dollars worth of infrastructure will have to be installed in Trump Tower to turn it into a White House North

Right now the cost to the Feds (funded by taxpayers of course) is already $2 million a day (just the federal cost): [More...]

Right now, the cost to taxpayers is more than $2 million a day, the documents show, a number that is sure to increase whenever the president or the first lady travels — or when the threat level rises.

The Secret Service will be paying rent to the Trump Organization for space it must lease in Trump Tower to protect him and his family:

When Trump heads home to the luxury 58-story high rise on Fifth Avenue, the feds will also need to find accommodations for staffers in a building where a modest one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment rents for $5,250 a month, according to the StreetEasy real estate site.

"They would need at least a whole floor, and every apartment on that floor would need to be turned into an office," Sullivan said.

Evy Poumpouras, a former Secret Service agent who protected both Bush and Obama says:

...she hopes Trump will reconsider at least his own weekend plans once he becomes president.

"This is one of those situations where they really should have an honest conversation with him and just really explain to him that this is not a good idea," she told NBC's Brian Williams. "To physically re-create the security that exists at the White House in New York City, it's not going to happen."

Poumpouras says NYC is dangerous to residents of Trump Tower and anyone nearby:

"There's buses going by. There's trucks going by. When that detonates, that building is not going to withstand that blast."

As to the cost of securing Trump and family at Trump Tower:

Poumpouras said that flights out of LaGuardia Airport would have to be rerouted so they didn't fly directly over Trump Tower and that the subways running below the building would have to be fortified and closely watched.

"Routes will need to change," she said. "All the security changes to make this happen will cost millions upon millions."

Then there's presidential gridlock. Any time the commander-in-chief ventures in and out of New York City, traffic grinds to a halt, and commuter chaos ensues.

Rivaling Joe Biden, his motorcade from the airport to his Palm Beach house included 45 cars and an ambulance.

It was in a 45-vehicle convoy that included limousines, vans — and an ambulance.

Trump's Florida property, in addition to Trump Tower, will require improvements costing a lot of federal money to protect him.

"It is the case that the Secret Service regularly upgrades a president's off-campus residence," Sullivan said. "Typically, it includes security apparatus and global communications."

And he wasn't even the people's choice for President. He lost the popular vote by more than 2 million votes to Hillary Clinton. The numbers are here.

Congress should pass an appropriations measure like it did in 2014 when it prohibited Department of Justice funds from being used to enforce medical marijuana laws in states where it was legal.

The Secret Service is under the Homeland Security Department. So how about a funding law that says:

SEC. xxx. None of the funds made available in the 2017 budget authorization to the Department of Homeland Security shall be used to protect or secure the President or his immediate family at a secondary residence owned or controlled by a President during his tenure as President. No such funds shall be used to pay rent at any residence or commerical property in which the President has a financial interest. The expenditure of funds authorized in this section shall be limited to the White House, Camp David, and properties inhabited by the President and his immediate family during regularly scheduled vacations of up to two weeks in length, provided neither he nor his immediate family have a financial interest in such vacation properties.

Let Trump rent out his gawdy, ostentatious palaces in Trump Tower and Mar a Lago and his plane for four years. Or admit he really doesn't want to be President and give up the job.

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  • Display: Sort:
    It appears to be unconstitutional (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by Peter G on Sat Nov 26, 2016 at 02:14:16 PM EST
    for a President to have a financial interest in a business that is paid rent by the federal government, or by any state government. Article II, section 1, clause 7 (the "domestic emoluments" clause) states:
    The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.
    This is apart from the problems Tr*mp would have complying with the "foreign emoluments clause."

    Several legal (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Nov 26, 2016 at 06:39:50 PM EST
    experts and political observers such as David Frum have said that Trump cannot assume office if he does not do something about his businesses.

    Parent
    Impeachment is the Only Remedy (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Michael Masinter on Sat Nov 26, 2016 at 07:24:27 PM EST
    There's no reason to think either emoluments clause is enforceable through litigation; nobody has standing to sue.  Short of impeachment, Trump can enrich himself as he sees fit. And he will.

    Parent
    Pretty much. (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Nov 26, 2016 at 08:03:33 PM EST
    It's not like the GOP is going to hold him accountable for anything.

    Parent
    The brilliant Lyle Denniston, blogger (none / 0) (#8)
    by Peter G on Sat Nov 26, 2016 at 09:17:34 PM EST
    at the National Constitution Center, suggests that the Emoluments Clauses may be enforceable by private suit through the False Claims Act.

    Parent
    "Cannot assume office" (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Peter G on Sat Nov 26, 2016 at 08:52:26 PM EST
    Why? I suppose you could say, because he cannot truthfully swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States, as required, if he is in violation of the Emoluments Clauses from Day One.

    Parent
    That's the argument (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Nov 26, 2016 at 09:02:56 PM EST
    they are making. However I don't know how this all works out since I don't know how you stop him from taking office. The only way I could see it happening is him taking office and impeachment proceedings starting the next day. But the GOP is not going to hold him accountable and they control both the house and the senate. So there we are.

    Parent
    Just curious... (none / 0) (#7)
    by SomewhatChunky on Sat Nov 26, 2016 at 09:15:52 PM EST
    Just curious as to where everyone thinks he should live between now and inauguration day (Jan 20)?  

    I think the White House is currently occupied....

    Just asking questions? (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Peter G on Sat Nov 26, 2016 at 09:20:07 PM EST
    or "just curious"?

    Parent
    Oh for cripes sake (5.00 / 4) (#11)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Nov 27, 2016 at 01:29:40 AM EST
    We really have done this before. The President elect and immediate family move into Blair House. It's not rocket science, nor has raping tax payers been a norm!

    Parent
    I appologize if "we" really have (none / 0) (#12)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Nov 28, 2016 at 02:02:54 PM EST
    done this before but I certainly don't read every post on this site.

    I believe the tradition is for the President elect and family to move into the Blair House in mid-ish January, a week or so before the inauguration.

    President-elect Ronald Reagan stayed from Jan. 14 until his inauguration.

    President-elect George H.W. Bush stayed from Jan. 18 to Jan. 20 in 1989.

    President-elect Bill Clinton stayed for three days before his inauguration.

    President-elect George W. Bush stayed from Jan. 17 to Jan. 20 in 2001.

    In addition to foreign dignitaries, the President's Guest House has traditionally been made available by the outgoing President of the United States to the President-elect in the five days prior to his inauguration.[17]


    Parent
    He should pick one place (none / 0) (#9)
    by ruffian on Sat Nov 26, 2016 at 09:19:03 PM EST
    Trump Tower or Mar a Lago. Preferably whichever is cheapest for the taxpayer - probably Mar a Lago.

    Parent