Donald Trump has made quite a mint for himself by running for and serving as president.
Both the Trump presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee spent more than $14 million on Trump properties throughout the 2016 presidential election, according to a report by The Washington Post. These included not only rentals at his famous Trump hotels and office buildings, but also catering, airfare, and various other expenses.
In December alone, Trump Tower received more than $130,000 for rent (down from $170,000 in September and October), while Trump International Hotel in Washington received more than $111,000 from the Republican National Committee for "venue rental and catering." The article also noted that the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey received $37,000 from the Trump campaign, while the Trump National Doral Miami received $74,000 from the Trump campaign in October through Election Day. Overall, the Trump campaign and Republican Party spent more than $413,000 that month on Trump properties or for the benefit of members of his family.
This isn't the first time that Trump's properties have come under scrutiny due to the president's profiteering. After winning his election, there were reports of foreign diplomats taking reservations on Trump's Washington DC hotel to get on the president's good side (which could violate the emoluments clause of the Constitution) and of the Kuwaiti embassy rescheduling an annual party to occur at his Washington hotel after allegedly being pressured by the Trump Organization. The Trump International Hotel has also been the site of many important political events since Trump's election, from the Republican National Committee's Christmas Party to an event featuring Vice President Mike Pence and hosted by the Heritage Foundation.
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