By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Trump has dedicated a significant portion of his time back in office to visiting and promoting his real estate holdings. Analysis reveals he spent 75 days of his first 190 days at Trump-owned properties, with recent trips to Scotland demonstrating this pattern. Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate, remains a frequent destination, hosting the president nearly every weekend in March. Furthermore, Trump’s overseas trips have resulted in licensing deals for real estate projects, highlighting the intersection of his presidency and business interests.
Read the original article here
Trump Has Spent a Third of His Presidency visiting his own properties, and that’s a pretty significant chunk of time when you consider what the role entails. A full third of his time in office – a very considerable period – dedicated to being at his own properties. And let’s be clear, it’s not just the time spent, but the financial implications, too. It’s like he was actively using the presidency as a means to make money, funneling taxpayer dollars into his own businesses.
This raises questions of conflict of interest, of course. The Secret Service and other staff need lodging, food, and other services, and all of that often happened at his resorts. Now, that’s not inherently wrong, but when those services are charged at inflated rates, using taxpayer money, it starts to look more like a scheme to personally enrich himself. Think about it: charging the government, through the Secret Service, for lodging, food, and various amenities at his own properties.
The financial aspect becomes even more glaring when you consider the additional spending. It’s not just the accommodation and meals; it’s the costs associated with security details, transport, and all the other logistical needs of a presidential visit. All this adds up and essentially turns the presidency into a revenue stream for his businesses, funded by the taxpayers.
It’s difficult not to see this as a continuation of a pattern. Some would say that he seemed more interested in promoting his own brand and enriching himself than in the actual work of being president. Whether it was golf, or simply being at his own properties, the pattern was there from the beginning. This raises an important question: what should the priorities of a President be?
And of course, we have to talk about the optics. Does it look good? Many people would argue that it doesn’t, especially when you’re talking about a leader who is supposed to be focused on the country’s best interests and well-being. When he’s essentially using the presidency as a means to profit personally, it’s hard to see it as anything other than a conflict of interest, a sort of grift.
This is not a new observation, and the same criticisms apply to the current tenure. A significant portion of his time is spent at his properties. It is a consistent theme, and it highlights what some see as the core issue: personal enrichment and self-promotion taking precedence over the job itself.
Many are left with the feeling that this isn’t just about the time spent away from the job, but what was going on when he was there, including issues of ethical conduct, or potentially illegal actions. It is all about profiting while in the role. All the while, he and his supporters seem to disregard the concerns of those who might question it. It is a significant part of the story.
And, unfortunately, it also feeds into the cynical view that many have, that this presidency was more about personal gain than public service. This is a major issue in itself, and it’s a problem that goes far beyond the surface-level political discussions. It’s a matter of trust and the fundamental purpose of the office.