WASHINGTON – American taxpayers will shell out at least $10 million over the next several days so President Donald Trump can participate in a marketing photo opportunity at his golf resort in Aberdeen, Scotland — the profits from which will flow directly into his own pocket.
Trump is planning to visit his golf resorts in both Aberdeen on the east coast and Turnberry on the west. His appearance in Aberdeen coincides with the grand opening of a second 18-hole course there, which Trump has been personally publicizing in recent years.
The trip is unrelated to a planned state visit to the United Kingdom in September, making it by far the most expensive golf vacation to date in either of his terms. It will also increase the total golf tab in his second term to at least $52 million. He spent $152 million in taxpayer money playing golf at his own resorts in his first term.
“He’s using the presidency to market his golf courses,” said Richard Painter, the top ethics lawyer in George W. Bush’s second-term White House. “At the taxpayer’s expense, he’s promoting himself.”
“We’ve reached a point where the Oval Office is an extension of the Trump Organization, and American taxpayers are footing the bill,” added Jordan Libowitz with the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “A president should not be spending time trying to make money in a foreign country while in office, but if they do, at the very least they could pick up the tab for their business trips.”
