Spicer: Trump wants media’s help in choosing where to donate his salary

President Donald Trump plans to donate his salary to charity at the end of the year, his press secretary said Monday, and he wants the reporters who cover him to decide what he does with it.

During his campaign, Trump, himself a billionaire, pledged not to take the presidential salary of $400,000. Sean Spicer told reporters at Monday’s afternoon briefing that Trump still plans to the give money away, though he hasn’t yet.


Spicer added that the White House would like reporters to advise the president on his decision, in a remark that amounted to a slight dig at the press corps.

“The president’s intention right now is to donate his salary at the end of the year, and he has kindly asked that you all help determine where that goes,” Spicer said. “The way that we can avoid scrutiny is to let the press corps determine where it should go.”

Reporters have been aggressive in covering the administration and topics like the conflicts of interest presented by Trump’s business empire, prompting Trump and his advisers to criticize the press and claim that they have been scrutinized unfairly.

After Spicer suggested that they weigh in on the salary question, reporters in the briefing room laughed, and the press secretary added: “In all seriousness, I think his view is he made a pledge to the American people, he wants to donate it to charity, and he'd love your help to determine where it should go.”

A reporter jokingly suggested that Trump donate the money to White House Correspondents Association personnel.

“That would be a great way to do it,” Spicer replied.