May 13, 2017 2 min read

In 2015, Donald Trump said he would “rarely leave the White House because there’s so much work to be done.” Now, he is golfing and visiting a Trump-branded property every few days.

I’m deeply concerned with Trump’s taxpayer-funded trips to Trump properties. Here’s why: Trump is putting taxpayer dollars directly in his pocket by visiting his properties so frequently. The Secret Service has spent tens of thousands of dollars on golf carts alone at Mar-a-Lago, and that’s the tip of the iceberg.

While Trump spends our tax dollars at Mar-a-Lago, he’s also hosting high-profile meetings with foreign leaders there, like the prime minister of Japan. Talk about a photo op for his own property.

After Election Day, Mar-a-Lago doubled its membership fees to $200,000. That’s a lot of money in Trump’s pocket.

Nobody should be allowed to profit from the presidency. I’ve had enough. It’s time for our representatives in Congress to stand up to Trump’s abuse of power and waste of taxpayer dollars.

Trump’s trips to Mar-a-Lago have already cost $25 million. That’s enough to pay for over 2 million Meals on Wheels.

If Congress continues to sit on its hands, our representatives should be held accountable for their complicity to Trump’s corruption. I’ll remember their inaction when I step into the voting booth.

Karen Wiegand

Pittsburgh