This is a fact! The president of the United States pays for meals for himself, his family and personal guests. This includes the First Family’s private Thanksgiving meal. The First Family must also pay for their own household expenses, down to the toothpaste and the First Lady’s clothing. Although the president pays his family’s personal meals, the White House chefs who often prepare the president’s meals are paid by the government.
State dinners are paid for by taxpayers.
Image Source: foxnews.com
The president also pays for private parties, such as birthday parties. For example, at Michelle Obama’s 50th birthday bash, President Obama actually paid for the food and beverages, waiters and servers and setup and cleanup crews.
Each month, the White House usher’s office prepares a detailed bill and sends a copy to the president and to the first lady. Laura Bush, for example, was surprised to learn how much she had to spend on designer clothes to dress like the First Lady. Yet, the job of First Lady doesn’t come with a clothing allowance or a salary. Mary Todd Lincoln even racked up tens of thousands of dollars in clothing bills and considered selling manure from the White House grounds to pay them off. Although designers sometimes donate outfits, the First Lady cannot keep donated gifts. Instead, they are kept in national archives.
Image Source: npr.org
Why is this? The payment rule dates back to 1800s when the White House was first occupied by President John Adams and there was no staff. Presidents brought their own staff with them and paid for everything. To this day, taxpayers are only supposed to pay for official government functions.
Congress gradually began spending money to maintain an official White House staff to oversee operations and maintenance, but presidents continued to pay for personal expenses. And the First Family has never paid for rent, utilities, transportation, security, or medical care.
What is the White House Budget?
For the budget year that ended September 30, 2014, Congress gave the White House $19,000 to pay for official receptions and $12.7m to cover operating expenses for the residence, which may include entertainment. However, the cost to taxpayers associated with running the White House under is still approximately $1.4 billion per year. The costs include staffing, travel, and security.
Image Source: dailymail.co.uk
Compare that to the Queen of England’s budget for Buckingham Palace, which is only one of her many palaces. In 2014 the Royal family was given £31 million a year to fund royal duties, pay staff and maintain the palaces.
What do you think? Is it right that the President pay for his own family’s personal expenses in the White House? Or should the Office of the Presidency be as worry-free as possible.
HOW could Obama’s White House have a $12.7 million billion FY 2014 budget for the expenses of the official residence and a total taxpayer cost of $1.4 billion when Title 3, Section 102 gives the President a salary of less than half a billion and when Section 103 gives him only $100,000 in traveling expenses? Where in the U.S. Code are the other expenses of the White House, as approved by Congress under Article I?
Dam you cant read
Fine. But, has Trump paid for his family and live-in in-laws?
He sure has when he have back the $400,000 yearly salary for 4 years
He cost us taxpayers more than that playing golf.
He got paid for every year he was in office, Trump would never give up money…. to “Greedy” for that. Never showed proof of it anyway
Trump didn’t “give back” but used that $400k to offset his personal profits from Trump O businesses. Didn’t even donate ANY of His 2020 salary. Look it up on his tax returns…$0 in donations. Gee wonder why no one on Right made a huge deal out of that?
More than likely he hasn’t. Trump stiffs everyone when it comes to paying for anything
You obviously hate Trump. So sorry for you.
He’s a billionaire I don’t think he really cares about a pocket change salary of 400.000
Trump didn’t even accept his salary for being president. Every cent was donated to a charity or given to a sept of the USA.
it was PLEDGED to charities…..
He’s the best president we ever had.I live in a small city called willimantic ct. We all luv trump
Trump didn’t receive salary and paid for wife and Son
Other Trump’s were government employees
You must be a liberal with CNN.
I think that is the most stupid thing I ever heard.
Agreed
I would agree with your statement but your comment is much more stupid.
To add on:
President gets a pay check (6 figures)
He has no bills to pay for the roof provided, (only debt is what he has already incurred!)
Pays only for groceries, and personal items.
Does not pay the staff.
Wife can shop and SHOULD shop at thrift stores, as the fashion industry is a drain on the environment. Also, it is possible to wear an outfit more than once.
Seems like a friggen awesome deal, what does the job entail? I tweet all day, sign me up!
Actually they do pay the staff and other expenses for certain private functions. Thanksgiving, parties etc.
Trump didn’t get a salary for being president, he turned it down. But why are tax payers paying for hunter and his growers wife to live at the White House.
The most crazy arrangements I have heard. I can understand extravant items being paid for out of pocket, but meals!!!! Isn’t the Presidency enough of a burden to worry about.
True-meals should be provided for instead of having to plan, and therefore taking up time and thought when that energy should go for governmental concerns. Sustenance should be immediate when you are in the Whitehouse, as that presidential function requires energy to function.
Our current President cannot name 3 meals, much less plan them!
The military gets free meals! The President is the Commander of our Forces!!
NO. I DON’T THINK THE PRESIDENT SHOULD PAY FOR THEIR GROCERIES. SO STUPID. PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN’T EVEN TAKE A SALARY. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
I agree
President Trump donated his salary to, I believe the treasury. By law, Trump was required to take a salary. He was told that he could take $1. My question is this. Since the President is paid $400000 a year. Does Biden get a pass because he is an incompetent President? The man doesn’t know where he is half the time. He can’t seem to put 2 sentences together, let alone take “tough” softball questions from the press. I’m sorry Rose, but what you said is partially true.
…yawn….
Every president has to be paid – and tRUMP is no different. What the president, including tRUMP, does with the salary is up to them. YOU can choose to work for your employer for free – but the President of the USA canNOT.
Stop believing the b.s. spat out by a compulsive and pathological liar! tRUMP is a con-artist.
Hahahaha, check out his latest tax returns. He didn’t donate any of his salary. Agent Orange LIES!!
He donated 25% of his salary even though he promised to donate all. Guess he fooled ya!
I do think the tax payers shouldn’t pay for their campaigning either, why is my tax dollar going to get some lowlife democrats to get elected again, what a bunch of bull use your campaign money.
Who pays for the Vice President household staff. Maid, cook, cleaning staff, chauffeur, groceries, laundry, drycleaning, handyman etc. It must be in thousands of dollars per month.
Same arrangement. The V P just had a bridal shower for her stepsons fiance. She paid for everything, food, decorations etc.
President Trump donated his salary to, I believe the treasury. By law, Trump was required to take a salary. He was told that he could take $1. My question is this. Since the President is paid $400000 a year. Does Biden get a pass because he is an incompetent President? The man doesn’t know where he is half the time. He can’t seem to put 2 sentences together, let alone take “tough” softball questions from the press. I’m sorry Rose, but what you said is partially true.
I sure hope that our tax payer dollars are not being spent on Old Joe Biden’s birthday party or his granddaughter’s upcoming wedding. The White House staff would surely be in service for those things. Taxpayers pay for the staff. Let’s pray that Biden puppeteer Pelosi is not giving a going away/retirement party that we would pay through our tax dollars
There all millionaires let them pay for all their own shit. When did it start that the tax dollars started paying for everything then they save their 400,000. each year, or am I wrong there?