RantCrush Top 5: February 22, 2017

President Donald Trump liked to criticize President Barack Obama for traveling when he was president. But as it turns out, Trump’s trips have cost American taxpayers almost as much in one month as Obama’s did in a full year. Taxpayers have paid about $11.3 million for Trump’s three trips to his luxury second home, Mar-a-Lago, and for his sons’ business trips since the inauguration. The cost for Obama’s trips during each year was on average about $12.1 million.

President @BarackObama‘s vacation is costing taxpayers millions of dollars—-Unbelievable!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2012

In addition to airplane fuel, we’ve been footing the bill for coast guards to watch the shoreline near Mar-a-Lago while Trump is there. Taxpayers also paid for secret service agents to accompany Eric Trump to promote a Trump tower in Uruguay. Similar bills stem from when Eric and Donald Jr. held a separate grand opening in Dubai.

Trump trips to NY and Mar-a-Lago could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions. Some of that goes into Trump’s pockets: https://t.co/64lTgjNr98 pic.twitter.com/VT6nQkvstG

— Aaron Wiener (@aaronwiener) February 17, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.