Trump using Air Force 1 to fly to rally after rally-- Using taxpayer money to campaign?

[LymphocyteLover]

Is this legal?

I though typically presidents couldn't use Air force for campaign events. Typically they would schedule some official meeting to provide some excuse then have the campaign event.

But it seems like Trump is just using AF1 to fly from event to event-- totally taking advantage of his position (what else is new?). Using taxpayer money to campaign. A violation of the Hatch Act too, right?

I'm sure they are not repaying the government, are they (I know Obama did that).

[SheltieLover]

1. I've wondered this as well

[brooklynite]

2. Yes it's legal, and every President has done it...

Now, what is SUPPOSED to happen is that the campaign is supposed to reimburse the Govt on a per person basis (at First Class plane rates)

[mitch96]

8. Don't all politicians do it? They just forget about their job in congress/senate/prez and go look

for another job/political position. Can you imagine telling your boss that you are going to go look for another job and want to take a few weeks off to do it? Oh and I want to get PAID to do it also.. Yeah right..
What a scam...
m

[Renew Deal]

10. They get around it by having some sort of "official" event.

So they'll shake hands with a mayor and call it government business.

[LymphocyteLover]

17. Is trump even doing that though?

I mean it just seems like he is getting a huge pass on all these sorts of things

[Renew Deal]

22. I don't know

But probably. This comes up with every campaigning president. Not much that can be done about it. The president belongs on AF1.

[LymphocyteLover]

23. I'm not saying he shouldn't use AF1. But do presidents fly to so many rallies normally?

Just seems like he is abusing the system.

[Renew Deal]

24. I haven't done a statistical breakdown

But the last week is always crazy. If you remember, Obama would fly back to Illinois just to vote. I think Bush Jr. flew to Texas.

[Renew Deal]

26. More info about Trumps hypocrisy

Link to tweet

[AleksS]

3. I'm sure he's found the loopiest of loopholes.

I'm sure that if he greets the governor or a state representative at the airport, he can bill it as a "business expense" and say he was acting in his role as president, and justify the trip that way.

Shady as all shit, but as you know: Grifters gotta grift. He probably rents out a floor of any T.rump properties in the area and calls it a "security base" so he can bill the taxpayers for that too.

[Blue_true]

4. If his campaign pay for use of the plane, then From what I understand, it is legal.

Trump is showing his colors, he has no interest in the rigors of being President and actually doing the job. He just wants adulation.

[crickets]

7. For security and logistics reasons, it makes sense that it works that way.

But we all know he isn't paying a single dime.

[LymphocyteLover]

18. that's the thing-- he doesn't pay his bills!

[lame54]

5. 6 to 3 says it is

[brooklynite]

16. The Supreme Court has no position.....

[FloridaBlues]

6. Shouldn't the house have oversite? Of money spent?

[fescuerescue]

15. They absolutely do

But not at the line item detail.

It's basically a high level budget item: "Presidential security: $1Zillon"

[Renew Deal]

9. He's the president. That's the way it is.

[gratuitous]

11. I'm sure President Trump is absolutely scrupulous about expenses

I mean, it's not like he'd charge the taxpayer $3 for his glass of water at Mar-a-Lago.

Or maybe he would?

Trump is pocketing money from Republican donors, from GOP functions, and from your taxes

* * *

As The Washington Post reports, Trump hasn’t made money from the White House just by skimming directly from government funds, but that has been a significant source of his revenue. For example, rather than meeting with Japanese President Shinzo Abe at the White House, or Camp David, or any other government property, Trump insisted that they hold the meeting at Mar-a-Lago, his privately owned club in Florida. Then he charged the government for every room, every meal, every drink, and every round of golf—including his own.

That’s right. Trump charged the American people to Trump eat Trump’s food at Trump’s club. The prime rib on the buffet line is even better when it’s free. It gets better: Trump charged $3 for water, even when he was the one drinking it.

[LymphocyteLover]

19. Great point-- I saw that earlier but forgot about it

[FBaggins]

12. Yes and no

The RNC has to reimburse the government for the travel... but it does so at a much lower rate than the actual cost of operating AF1.

Prior to the Obama administration, that reimbursement was based on the cost of first-class airfare. Since then it has been the cost of chartering a private jet.

[Poiuyt]

13. He needs to fly on Air Force One because of security reasons

No other plane in the world has the same capabilities as AF1.

[fescuerescue]

14. Like all prior Presidents

He's not responsible for the protection element which is 99.99% of AF1 cost.

He has to personally cover the equivalent of a 1st class ticket from DC to wherever.

Believe me, Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon etc all flew AF1 to campaign events.

[LymphocyteLover]

20. I know they did. I just meant is he paying his share?

[Renew Deal]

25. Probably not

But that's another problem with the system. They get around it by performing official business wherever they go. Official business can be almost anything.

This article has some info. Trump is a hypocrite as usual: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/05/29/donald-trumps-use-air-force-one-mixes-business-and-campaigning/3405405002

More info: https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20120616/news/801251805

[LymphocyteLover]

27. thanks!

[GulfCoast66]

21. All presidents do it. The campaign covers a little of the cost.

Obama did the same thing.

You want President Biden flying on Delta? Not me.

[LymphocyteLover]

28. No, no, the point was just whether he was following the rules

and it's hard to imagine he is... also, all he's fucking doing the past few weeks is campaigning. He sure as fuck isn't working though I suppose that's a good thing in a way

[Bengus81]

29. Nah...all Presidents will use AF1 to campaign. Biden will do the same.........

Their campaign should have to pay back some token amount but no, a sitting President isn't going to run around on a bus to get re-elected.