Putting It on Trump's Tab

In the 975 days since his inauguration, Donald Trump has spent 295 days at a Trump property.  If one assumes an estimated $100K in profit for the Trump Organization charged to the American taxpayer (for such things as meals and housing for FBI and Secret Service), that adds up to $29,500,000.00 - almost thirty million dollars.

But wait - there's more.  While acting as understudy to Mr. Trump this past weekend on a trip to Ireland, Mike Pence, at Donald Trump's suggestion, requested a change of accomodation.  Rather than stay at the location that had been arranged for him, near the site of the talks in which he was to take part, Pence chose instead to stay at a Donald Trump property, about 180 miles from the site of the meeting.  Which will cost the taxpayer further IMHO completely unnecessary expense, not only for the digs at Doonbeg, but also for the flight back and forth from there to Dublin, the site of the meetings.  (Doonbeg is on the extreme western coast of Ireland; Pence's official business was in Dublin, in eastern Ireland.  To get to the latter from the former requires either an hour's  car trip or a 40-minute flight.   Here's the route:. )

Thanks to Messrs. Trump and  Pence, we can add beaucoup bucks to what we're footing the bill for.  Let's hope that Rep. Elijah Cummings, chair of the House Oversight committee, finds a way to pursue violations by the Trump Administration of the Domestic Emoluments Clause ; That is not a political maneuver by Democrats, as Mr. Pence stated today.  The clause originated in 1788 with Alexander Hamilton and Federalist 73.