PD Editorial: Public pays high price for Trump’s leisure time

Given his harsh criticisms of President Barack Obama’s travel, spending and golf habits, it’s hard not to wonder what Donald Trump would say about the current occupant of the White House if, you know, it weren’t him.

It might go something like this:

@realDonaldTrump: “Can you believe it? One full week in office, @realDonaldTrump already taking a golf weekend! Awful!”

@realDonaldTrump: “Another weekend, another golf trip for @realDonaldTrump. Doesn’t he know each trip costs taxpayers $3 million? Sad!”

@realDonaldTrump: “Why is @realDonaldTrump using Air Force One for campaign rallies? Election almost 4 years away. Costing taxpayers a fortune! He should pay!”

But Trump has never demonstrated much capacity for either self-reflection or shame. Any person with even a modicum of such capacity might hesitate to propose a cut of $3 million from a beloved and useful program like Meals on Wheels, knowing that every single trip to Mar-a-Lago, his “winter White House,” costs taxpayers almost exactly that amount in travel and security expenses.

Trump seems to have forgotten not only his criticisms of Obama but many of his campaign promises. Like this one: “I’m going to be working for you. I’m not going to have time to go play golf.”

Sure, one of the golf trips was with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but most of his rounds have been played with acquaintances, business friends and sports figures like professional golfer Rory McIlroy and former Yankee Paul O’Neill, not other heads of state or political figures he could be working out deals with on the links.

And most, if not all, have been at his own golf resorts - visits that burnish his brand’s image even while taking him away from the nation’s work.

It isn’t just the president’s active leisure schedule that’s causing concern. The costs to secure Trump Tower in New York, where First Lady Melania Trump lives at least until son Barron finishes out the school year, are astronomical. The security detail cost New York City more than $25 million between Election Day and the inauguration.

We won’t criticize her for choosing to stay at Trump Tower while her young son finishes out the school year, but there’s no reason why taxpayers should foot that bill - especially when it directly profits the president.

The Secret Service and Pentagon will both be leasing expensive space at Trump Tower - costs that could easily run into the millions and which will be paid directly to the Trump Organization.

Then there is the cost of the Secret Service detail providing protection to Trump’s sons as they circle the globe conducting business. According to the Washington Post, a recent trip by Eric Trump to Uruguay cost taxpayers nearly $100,000 just for hotel bills. The agency has requested a $60 million budget increase for next year to provide security for the Trump family, the Post reported this week.

Trump made a big deal on the campaign trail about refusing to accept a salary if he became president. It turns out he is taking the paychecks, but now he’s promising to relinquish the salary at the end of the year, either giving it back to the Treasury Department or donating it to a charity.

We have a better idea. Trump should accept his salary. In exchange, he should spend more time at the White House doing the work for which he was elected - and reimburse taxpayers for the cost of protecting his family while they do family business.