As President, Donald Trump wasn't exactly shy about using his office to funnel profits to the Trump Organization.
Trump saw controversy in 2019 after reports broke that, before running for office, Trump reached a deal with officials at the Glasgow Prestwick Airport to recommend Trump's nearby Turnberry Resort to Air Force officers stopping there to refuel. He also infamously proposed holding the G7 Summit at his Florida resort in 2020—a move that would have sent untold amounts of funds to his business to accommodate the attending world leaders.
It turns out Trump continues to profit from his office even after leaving it.
Expense documents reported by the Washington Post reveal that, since his first day as a private citizen, Trump has charged U.S. Secret Service members nearly $400 per night for space at his Mar-a-Lago resort, where he lived until last month before moving to his New Jersey club for the Summer. These charges, reportedly for a workspace in the resort, have amounted to $40 thousand in the four months since Trump left office.
The Post reported:
"Former presidents get Secret Service protection for life. But last year The Washington Post spoke to historians and representatives for recent presidents and could not find another example of a president charging the Secret Service rent on this scale."
Given Trump's record, people weren't too surprised.
Grifters gonna grift.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1395704051661254658\u00a0\u2026— Curious George (@Curious George) 1621611691
Is anybody shocked that Trump keeps on scamming?https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1395704051661254658\u00a0\u2026— Corporal Bruno #Marines (@Corporal Bruno #Marines) 1621597427
Are we surprised?https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1395704051661254658\u00a0\u2026— Berdio (she/her) (@Berdio (she/her)) 1621610420
Sick but expected.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1395704051661254658\u00a0\u2026— Ernesto tree (@Ernesto tree) 1621617709
Wow that\u2019s surprising said nobodyhttps://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1395704051661254658\u00a0\u2026— Richard Kligman (@Richard Kligman) 1621618012
Surprise, surprise, surprise!https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1395704051661254658\u00a0\u2026— Lara \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Lara \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1621609094
But they weren't excusing it.
Maybe the Secret Service should do the "Trump method" of paying for space at Mar-a-Lago: Wherein they use the room and just don't pay. Trump claims this approach makes him smart, why not play by his rules?https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1395704051661254658\u00a0\u2026— Brian Roth (@Brian Roth) 1621618152
We, the American taxpayers pay for it.\nFor shame.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1395704051661254658\u00a0\u2026— Katherine Piegdon (@Katherine Piegdon) 1621598080
And the fraud goes on.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1395704051661254658\u00a0\u2026— Jonathan (@Jonathan) 1621598260
The Trump Organization hasn't commented on the matter to the Post.
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