Washington Post: “Since his first month in office, Trump has used his power to direct millions from U.S. taxpayers — and from his political supporters — into his own businesses. The Washington Post has sought to compile examples of this spending through open records requests and a lawsuit.” “In all, he has received at least $8.1 million from these two sources since he took office.” “The president brought taxpayer money to his businesses simply by bringing himself. He’s visited his hotels and clubs more than 280 times now, making them a familiar backdrop for his presidency. And in doing so, he has turned those properties into magnets for GOP events, including glitzy fundraisers for his own reelection campaign, where big donors go to see and be seen.”
The article from Washington Post begins with a focus on the 2018 meeting when Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Mar-a-Lago instead of the White House. The government footed the bill for their two-day meeting, which totaled over $36,000 in expenses for guest rooms, flower arrangements, and food and drinks. “Trump’s club even charged for the smallest of services,” the article reads. “When Trump and Abe met alone, with no food served, the government still got a bill for what they drank. ‘Bilateral meeting,’ the bill said. ‘Water.’ $3 each.”