Why Donald Trump needs to take a salary...

[Damocles]

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/11/donald-trump-salary-george-washington-214458?cmpid=sf

I knew that somebody would complain about it... I just didn't know what form it would take:

In his first interview as president-elect, Donald Trump pledged that he will accept as little of the presidential salary as he can get away with. “I think I have to by law take $1, so I’ll take $1 a year,” he told CBS’s Leslie Stahl. “$400,000 you’re giving up,” she responded, as if this were some sort of public-spirited sacrifice.

It is anything but a sacrifice. The precedent of insisting that the president accept a salary—not in his interest, but in the public interest—is as old as the first Congress, even older. The American framers considered payment of the presidential salary an important duty under the Constitution, and the principle that moved them then matters just as much as it ever did: It confirms that the president serves the public, and not the other way around. If the Founders’ reasons were good enough to persuade George Washington, our first independently wealthy president, they should be good enough for Donald Trump.

More at link...

 

[tsuke]

he is taking a dollar right? thats a salary.

 

[sear]

I don't know all the details.
But below a specified income, not only do income taxes need not be $PAID. A $tax $return need not even be filed.

Trump, the self declared: "I'm really rich", benefits $enormously from real estate tax loopholes. Perhaps he's concerned about jeopardizing his continued eligibility for them.

In any case, have you ever read George Washington's Expense Account? A man doesn't need a salary if he doesn't have to pay for anything.

 

[Stretch]

I see nothing wrong with taking the $1.00. The article points out that he could take the $400k and give it to charity. IMHO, I don't believe that's a wise option. The $400k is taxpayer money. Perhaps not every citizen would agree as to which charity should receive the money.

 

[sear]

#4

Who would complain about orphanages, or disabled veteran's charities?

If Trump took the $400K, but donated it, he'd get the tax exemption for the donation.

BUT !!

He'd still have the income.

If he only takes a $dollar per year, it may help uncomplilcate his tax dealings with the IRS.

 

[Teflon Don]

I see nothing wrong with taking the $1.00. The article points out that he could take the $400k and give it to charity. IMHO, I don't believe that's a wise option. The $400k is taxpayer money. Perhaps not every citizen would agree as to which charity should receive the money.

It is his money he would be free to do with as he pleases. This topic goes to show how pathetic the American people are if they are debating this issue as if it is some constitutional crisis.

 

[BRUTALITOPS]

if he took it they would have called him selfish for taking money when he already has so much

 

[sear]

" This topic goes to show how pathetic the American people are if they are debating this issue as if it is some constitutional crisis. " #6

"Debate"?

Discuss.

For you see:

a) This has been an unusual election.
- Trump is reported to be the first U.S. president elect in history that has neither political nor military experience.

- Trump was a dark horse in a primary with over a dozen candidates, several of whom had more conventional résumés.

- Numerous usually reliable polling agencies reported Trump had a <20% chance of winning.

- Trump is exceedingly unpresidential, speaks with candor about sexually exploiting women, including confessing to groping their genitalia.

b) The U.S. electorate is a minority of the U.S. population. A minority of the electorate * has just placed this evidently uncouth man's finger on the button that has the capacity to reduce the human population of the solar system to a tiny fraction of current level.

Do you really think a minority of a minority of ONE nation, should have the power to clobber the human race like that should be outside the realm of polite discussion?

* Trump is reported to have lost the popular vote to his political rival Hillary Clinton (D-NY); but won the electoral college.

 

[PostmodernProphet]

I liked the part where she asked him. "Are you going to take the salary as president?" and he said "How much is it?"......

 

[Darth Omar]

he is taking a dollar right? thats a salary.

And it satisfies the letter of the law. What's the problem?

 

[Celticguy]

I don't know all the details.
But below a specified income, not only do income taxes need not be $PAID. A $tax $return need not even be filed.

Trump, the self declared: "I'm really rich", benefits $enormously from real estate tax loopholes. Perhaps he's concerned about jeopardizing his continued eligibility for them.

In any case, have you ever read George Washington's Expense Account? A man doesn't need a salary if he doesn't have to pay for anything.

He will have other income even if it's being managed in a blind trust. He files regardless.

 

[Irish]

Why would he need to? He's worth 4 billion.

JFK also didn't take his salary and donated it.

He shouldn't be taking in any More money from his business. ANd he is already in process of creating a Trust, and letting his children run the business.

 

[Irish]

I don't know all the details.
But below a specified income, not only do income taxes need not be $PAID. A $tax $return need not even be filed.

Trump, the self declared: "I'm really rich", benefits $enormously from real estate tax loopholes. Perhaps he's concerned about jeopardizing his continued eligibility for them.

In any case, have you ever read George Washington's Expense Account? A man doesn't need a salary if he doesn't have to pay for anything.

Wow, this is something an idiot would post.

 

[Irish]

It is his money he would be free to do with as he pleases. This topic goes to show how pathetic the American people are if they are debating this issue as if it is some constitutional crisis.

Its NOT the American People, its morons on the left and a few media sources trying to fill a 24hr news cycle.

 

[sear]

"He will have other income" #11

Yesterday NBC-TV News reported Trump has 65 properties at several locations around the globe
in addition to 500 companies in 27 countries. 16/11/15

"even if it's being managed in a blind trust."

The most recent report I've read on that is that Trump has ruled out the blind trust, and instead wants his adult children to run his empire for him.
NBC reports U.S. presidents are exempt from conflict of interest laws.
But if Trump's adult children receive the security clearances reported, it's not even a pretense of a trust.

In fact there are some indications Trump wants to maintain his NYC Trump Tower residence, and commute to DC via helicopter.

"He files regardless."

Yes.
I haven't prepared my own taxes in a long time. My accounting firm does that for me.
BUT !!
When last I checked, the diversity of income can determine which forms are used.
I'm not wagering the vast sear fortune on it. But I'm guessing wildly if Trump took the full Constitutionally enumerated $400K it would mean an additional IRS form.

Whether his generous real estate exemptions cover $all his income, or only the portion generated by real estate, I don't know. I could guess. But I don't know for certain.
In any case, let's cut to the chase.

Trump's critics aren't particularly restrained. They tend to speak their minds. I've never heard any of them accuse Trump of having a philanthropic personality. Have you?
Even Trump's supporters haven't claimed that about him.

THUS:

There is at least the appearance that Trump has taken this option not for the charitable benefit of the United States federal treasury (& thus the People of the United States of America) but for some other reason, in whole or part.

"its morons on the left"

How many U.S. presidents have made such pledge?

If it's not news-worthy, why has it been reported?
And if it's not worthy of comment; why have YOU

a) opened the thread, knowing what it's about by the title

b) read it

c) posted in it?

#13

True.
Thanks.

 

[Celticguy]

Yesterday NBC-TV News reported Trump has 65 properties at several locations around the globe
in addition to 500 companies in 27 countries. 16/11/15

The most recent report I've read on that is that Trump has ruled out the blind trust, and instead wants his adult children to run his empire for him.
NBC reports U.S. presidents are exempt from conflict of interest laws.
But if Trump's adult children receive the security clearances reported, it's not even a pretense of a trust.

In fact there are some indications Trump wants to maintain his NYC Trump Tower residence, and commute to DC via helicopter.

Yes.
I haven't prepared my own taxes in a long time. My accounting firm does that for me.
BUT !!
When last I checked, the diversity of income can determine which forms are used.
I'm not wagering the vast sear fortune on it. But I'm guessing wildly if Trump took the full Constitutionally enumerated $400K it would mean an additional IRS form.

Whether his generous real estate exemptions cover $all his income, or only the portion generated by real estate, I don't know. I could guess. But I don't know for certain.
In any case, let's cut to the chase.

Trump's critics aren't particularly restrained. They tend to speak their minds. I've never heard any of them accuse Trump of having a philanthropic personality. Have you?
Even Trump's supporters haven't claimed that about him.

THUS:

There is at least the appearance that Trump has taken this option not for the charitable benefit of the United States federal treasury (& thus the People of the United States of America) but for some other reason, in whole or part.

How many U.S. presidents have made such pledge?

If it's not news-worthy, why has it been reported?
And if it's not worthy of comment; why have YOU

a) opened the thread, knowing what it's about by the title

b) read it

c) posted in it?

#13

True.
Thanks.

Nope. It changes nothing other than lowering the amount of income tax he can apply deductions to.

 

[philly rabbit]

JFK never took his presidential salary .. if I recall correctly. If I remember right, he donated it to charities.

I believe it was 2 hundred thousand a year.

 

[Celticguy]

JFK never took his presidential salary .. if I recall correctly. If I remember right, he donated it to charities.

I believe it was 2 hundred thousand a year.

Then he took it and gave it away.
Trump may have no choice as his salary is set by congress. They would have to allow for refusal.

 

[NOVA]

Bill Clinton still sucks up almost 1,000,000 taxpayer dollars a year from the gov. along with other past presidents.....Trump should take his full salary and give the liberals the middle finger.....

 

[Celticguy]

In a sense it's more trouble than its worth.
But as you point out its not just the salary but SS around him to some extent forever etc