(DailyAnswer.org) – Donald Trump, now President-elect once again, says he won’t take the presidential salary—just like he didn’t during his first term. In an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker, Trump made it clear that the tradition of collecting a paycheck while in office isn’t one he plans to follow.
When Welker asked if he’d accept the salary, Trump’s response was straightforward: “I’m not going to accept a salary, no.”
Trump went on to point out how rare his decision is, saying, “I’m giving up a lot of money. You know? It amazed me that, other than George Washington — and they’re not even sure about that — every President has taken their salary. Except me.”
Welker pressed further, asking if he accepted other benefits like the presidential pension. Trump replied, “I don’t think I accepted anything.” He emphasized, “The President gets about $450,000 a year, and I didn’t take it. By the way, I got no credit for that. That’s okay.”
Welker noted that his stance was notable. Trump, in turn, expressed surprise that other wealthy presidents, such as Kennedy, hadn’t done the same. “I was surprised. Not one president has done that. I would have assumed Roosevelt or Kennedy wouldn’t accept the salary—you know, the Kennedy family is rich,” he added.
During his first term, Trump donated his quarterly salaries to different federal agencies. These included the Department of Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, the Department of Transportation, and the Education Department in 2017. In 2018, he directed part of his salary to alcoholism research, a personal cause due to his older brother Fred Trump Jr., who died of alcoholism at just 43.
By 2019, Trump’s salary contributions were still going strong. For instance, his first-quarter salary went to the Department of Homeland Security. In 2020, he donated a portion to the National Park Service to help restore national monuments.
Trump first promised to forgo the presidential salary back in 2015 while campaigning. True to his word, he has stuck with that pledge. For Trump, this gesture isn’t about recognition but, as he says, “a nice thing to do.”
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