President Donald Trump said Friday that his frequent trips to his properties actually don’t cost very much and that he avoids going home to New York City to cut down on costs.
Trump told Fox News during a special airing Friday night that people perceive his frequent weekend trips to Trump resorts and clubs as him playing golf, but he denies that’s what he’s there to do.
“I have a lot of property,” Trump explained. “So if I go to my clubs like in New Jersey, they’ll say, ‘Oh he is going to play golf.’ I am not going to play golf. I couldn’t care less about golf.”
“But I have a place there that costs almost nothing because its hundreds of acres and security and they don’t have to close up streets,” he said.
The New York Times reports that Trump has spent 31 days of the 100 days of his presidency visiting his properties, including 19 visits to his golf clubs.
The President says he returns to these clubs instead of his home at Trump Tower, where the First Lady and his son Barron still live, because it costs too much and he hates to see New York streets closed.
“I love New York, but going back is very expensive for the country because they close up Fifth Avenue and they close up 56th Street and I always feel a little but guilty when I go there,” Trump said.
“I hate to see the New Yorkers with streets closed,” he added.
When Trump is not in New York City, the New York police department estimates that it costs $127,000 to $146,000 a day to protect Melania Trump and Barron Trump, according to Fox News.
He acknowledged that these trips cause some people to view him as “lazy” and someone who takes frequent vacations and said he does not want people to have that perception of him.
“It would be much better if people would understand that I could go other places than I have,” Trump said. “But then they hit me for relaxing. And I don’t want to be known as a person that relaxes because I am working hard and I am working hard for the people and we’re doing a great job.”
Watch below via Fox News:
Want to save money?
Just stay in the White House for a change…
As a New Yorker, I applaud Mr. Trump for staying the hell away from my city. FINALLY he does something I can applaud him for!!!
IT’S ALL ABOUT ME
You have your needs. I have mine.
You need to eat. I wish to dine.
Education, health care, time off fine?
Yours no longer, all is mine.
You sit in darkness all alone?
You work your fingers to the bone?
Watch me play another nine!
I choose to live where the sun do shine
on me.
My looming face is clearly sign
that every doubter must align.
While you struggle, I’ll do fine.
It’s all about me.
It also struck me in his interview about his 100 days that while he complained about losing his old life, no where did he say he missed his wife and child, both of whom he doesn’t appear to see much.
There is a reason for that, Donald. It’s because you’re lazy and you take frequent vacations.