The Obama’s Valentine’s Day Apart Cost Taxpayers An Estimated $2.5 Million
While most couples around the world were enjoying a romantic Valentine’s Day together, America’s first family decided to split up for the weekend and take separate vacations at a cost of around $2.5 million combined!
For his part, President Obama spent the weekend in California, where he managed three rounds of golf at a California course owned by Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison.
At the same time, his wife Michelle was with daughters Sasha and Malia in Aspen, Colorado for a spot of skiing, having flown there in another presidential airplane.
The White House released a statement confirming that President Obama had flown to San Francisco Thursday afternoon, and had attended several events, before taking Saturday, Sunday and Monday as vacation days.
One of the President’s stops was a speech he delivered at a summit on cyber security before attending a meeting with business leaders. He also attended a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee at the home of venture capitalist Sandy Robinson.
The reports of the pricey trips came as other news outlets reported that Michelle Obama and her daughters were jetting off to Japan in a few weeks time.
Astonishingly, according to figures obtained by Judicial Watch, Obama’s VC-25A jet, better known as Air Force One, costs $228,288 per hour while it is in the air, making up a significant chunk of the $2.5 million weekend trips.
The cost alone for Air Force One on this trip is estimated to be at around, $2,228,000, not to mention the five star hotels and luxury meals and shopping.
According to USA Today, President Obama shot some rounds at the Porcupine Creek Golf Course in Palm Springs, before returning to Washington on Monday.
However, with America still in a recession one wonders if the Obamas have any scruples about forking out an estimated $2.5 million in taxpayers money, simply so they can enjoy another vacation, in this case, separately.
