Donald Trump has been one of the most vocal critics of individuals — especially presidents — taking vacations. However, according to an Associated Press report, Trump will take his first 17-day-long vacation since his inauguration. The president's retreat is reported to take place in August, and the location is apparently his very own private golf resort in central New Jersey.
According to AP, the reason for the vacation is less about recreation and more related to maintenance-based changes taking place at the White House. Apparently, the White House is scheduled to change its 27-year-old heating and cooling system, which necessitated the evacuation of the building.
News of Trump's vacation may raise criticism from his opponents. The president has faced repeated disapproval for his frequent and exorbitantly costly trips to his golf resort in Florida.
CBS rounded up an estimation of how much Trump's golf hopping cost taxpayers in the United States and the figure came up to $3.3 million per trip. The president's first three trips cost roughly $10 million. So, it wouldn't be too far off to assume that Trump's very first official vacation will cost much more than his golf trips. Ironically enough, Trump wasn't much of a fan of Barack Obama playing golf and would sarcastically tweet that the former president had a "nice work ethic."
Back in 2015, Trump issued a vitriolic condemnation of Obama's golfing. Trump's opprobrium came after a terrorist attack in Denmark and beheadings of Coptic Christians which ISIS claimed responsibility for. In a statement to Fox News, Trump said, "For the president to be out there striking the ball was not such a good optic." He didn't stop there, either. Trump went on to say, "We are truly living in medieval times" and also stated, "Who wants to go on vacation when you're president? You're in the White House. You stay in your command center."
Trump has shared his disdain for vacations on several occasions. In 2004, he wrote in his book titled Trump: Think Like a Billionaire that vacations are pointless. "Don't take vacations," Trump wrote, "what's the point? If you're not enjoying your work, you're in the wrong job." In an interview with Larry King, Trump said that most of the "successful people" he knew weren't keen on taking time off. "Their business is their vacation. I rarely leave. You know that," he said.
Presidents taking vacations isn't exactly an abnormality. During their time as the leaders of the United States, Bill Clinton as well Obama retreated to Martha's Vineyard, while George W. Bush took time off in Crawford, Texas, where his ranch was located.
At this moment, more details about Trump's first vacation have yet to be revealed but White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told the press, "We will continue to keep you guys updated on his August schedule as those details are finalized."
