0

Agreed: zero.

0

That part of the Trump conflict of interest issue that he wants to ignore.
He wants to make money every turn while claiming he is giving away his salary as Prez..

I also say zero. Charging the secret service for Trump’s own protection, and then Trump receiving the payment is a clear conflict of interest.

They need to change the laws to make it mandatory that the President either gets rid of his assets and businesses (or put them into a true blind trust, not give power to family members or friends) if there is any kind of a conflict of interest, and their tax records need to be made available to the proper authorities. I believe right now, there is sort of a gray area regarding all of this, and that is how Trump is getting away with it. I think all modern Presidents have done the right thing, but the situation was sort of voluntary. Trump will never do the right thing unless he is legally mandated to do so, and even then, he’s still trying to get away with stuff, hence the need for a special counsel and a grand jury.

Zero is certainly the popular answer, but I don’t think it’s realistic long term.

Suppose the president was, for example, a peanut farmer in Georgia, instead of a rich multi-billionaire. The peanut farmer was comfortable, but it’s not like he owned a 70 story office building and other major sources of income.

The Secret Service would pay normal rates ($x per square foot) for the location. Not more, not less. But it would be based on the market rates for that particular locale

Yes, it’s fun to heap on Donnie the Crook. But we need principles and guidelines that will be sensible for ALL presidents, not just the current one.

ZERO.

$8:20

Considering that they would pay and have paid for other presidents and their families after they leave office, I don’t quite understand why it makes a difference. The Secret Service has to have an office in NYC, to provide services when the Trumps are there, as well as anywhere else. His daughter has already had the problem of a guy accosting her and her children at the airport. It makes sense that they have an office in Trump tower.The government must be charged, or it might look like he’s doing or giving a favor and could ask for a favor. I suppose that Trump could charge less, but he probably has a company that takes care of things like how much to charge for an office.
The articles that I have read like to start off with how he “could” make money, and devolve into how much it costs to protect him, like it is any different protecting this man and his family, and past presidents families.