Trump Donates Presidential Salary, Posts Photo of Massive Check to Homeland Security
President Donald Trump reminded Americans once again on Monday that he is not the usual brand of politician.
Trump took to Twitter to post a copy of the latest check he has sent to fulfill his commitment of donating his salary to a worthy cause.
“While the press doesn’t like writing about it, nor do I need them to, I donate my yearly Presidential salary of $400,000.00 to different agencies throughout the year, this to Homeland Security. If I didn’t do it there would be hell to pay from the FAKE NEWS MEDIA!” he tweeted.
While the press doesn’t like writing about it, nor do I need them to, I donate my yearly Presidential salary of $400,000.00 to different agencies throughout the year, this to Homeland Security. If I didn’t do it there would be hell to pay from the FAKE NEWS MEDIA! pic.twitter.com/xqIGUOwh4x
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2019
Before this latest donation, Trump in January donated part of his 2018 salary to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Trump’s older brother, Fred, suffered from alcohol-related problems and died in 1981 at the age of 43.
In the past, the president has donated parts of his salary to government departments including Education, Health and Human Services, Transportation and Veterans Affairs.
Trump has also donated part of his salary to the National Park Service. That donation was used to help repair buildings and fences at the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland, The Hill reported.
Many on Twitter said the gesture shows the difference between Trump and others.
Cindy McCain is worth $100 million but still accepted a $174,000 “death gratuity” upon her husband’s death (which we taxpayers bankroll).
Meanwhile, Trump donated his $400,000 presidential salary to federal agencies. And Ivanka and Jared both forgo their six-figure WH salaries.
— Samantha Chang (@samantha_chang) March 17, 2019
So @realDonaldTrump (a capitalist) donates his paycheck to DHS but loudmouth AOC (a socialist who wants to tax Americans at 70%) keeps her entire paycheck..
Money where your mouth is, babe?
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) March 19, 2019
Last fall, Trump donated part of his salary to the Small Business Administration, which said it will be used to help veterans.
“This money is going to be used in our veterans program. We’re going to establish a seven-month intensive training program called ‘Emerging Leaders.’ It’s an adaptation of that program for our veterans, helping them transition from military life into private sector if they desire to start their own jobs and their own companies, and be entrepreneurs,” SBA Administrator Linda McMahon said then, according to a transcript of an Oct. 3 White House briefing.
In May, acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie accepted Trump’s donation to the department and said the gesture was a small part of a larger picture, according to a White House briefing transcript from May 17.
“The president’s gift underscores his promise to do all that he can for veterans, which includes supporting those who care for our veterans — not just those of us at VA, but the husbands, the wives, the families, and the community caregivers who are out there day in and day out making life easier for those who have borne the battle,” Wilkie said.
The quarterly donations were not part of the initial donation plan, according to a BBC report from 2017.
In March 2017, then-White House spokesman Sean Spicer told a briefing that, “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 determine where that goes.”
“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,” Spicer said then.
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