TRUMP: 'Black House' costs

Now that the inauguration of Donald Trump is over and the Obamas have moved out of the White House, it looks like the White House will be somewhat vacant for the next six months. The Trumps want Melania and their son Barron to stay at the New York Trump Tower until Barron finishes his school year in New York.

But what will be the cost of maintaining this second White House — we’ll call it the Black House in New York — for six months?

To start with, it is reported to have cost the taxpayers — New York and federal payees — some $37.4 million for security at the Trump Tower up to the inauguration. And there will be a lease in the Trump Tower by the feds of two floors for the security resources at an annual amount of $3 million.

And then, it is estimated to cost $500,000 PER DAY to pay for the protection — personnel, equipment, etc. — of the Trumps while they are in the Trump Tower. When this amount is projected out for the next six months — until Barron finishes up his school year — it is estimated to be around $72 million.

Most previous presidents brought their kids to the White House to live and go to schools in the Washington, D.C., area. But this program isn’t good enough for the Trumps. They would rather spend some $72 million of taxpayers’ money to keep their son in a private school while living in the Black House in New York for six months.

With President Trump expected to make big cuts of money in government programs, I would hope he would start at home by moving his family to the White House, send his son to a D.C. school, and thus saving millions of taxpayer dollars. His son is no better than the other presidents’ kids who lived in the White House and went to D.C. schools — and it didn’t cost taxpayers $72 million.

D.L. MARTIN

Hayden