White House Spokesman: Trump Will Donate Presidential Salary to Charity

Shawn Spicer, the White House spokesman, emphasized that the President of the United States will not spend the presidential salary and benefits, but will donate it to charity. Donald Trump, before winning the election in the U.S., was a billionaire residing in New York who managed trade and commerce in various fields. During the election campaign, he stated that he would refuse to accept the presidential salary if he won. After winning the election, he reiterated this in an interview with CBS's '60 Minutes' program. On March 14, Spicer faced questions from reporters regarding this matter and responded that he would donate the salary and benefits to charity. Spicer mentioned that this would take place at the end of the year. The annual salary of the U.S. President is currently $400,000. The President also receives a $50,000 non-taxable expense allowance. The salary and benefits of this position are regulated by law. Other federal officials, including the Vice President, do not have fixed salaries. The salary of the U.S. President has changed several times over the past few hundred years. For example, in 1789, the President received $25,000, which would be worth $700,000 today. A hundred years later, this figure was $50,000, which would equate to $1 million today. At the beginning of the 20th century, considering today's money value, the salary and benefits reached $2 million. In 2001, a ceiling of $400,000 was set for it.