President Barack Obama has spent an unprecedented amount of money on travel as president, according to new documents obtained by government watchdog group Judicial Watch.
According to documents the organization obtained from the Secret Service and the Air Force, Obama has spent nearly $100 million on travel as president — or $96,938,882.51 to be exact. Judicial Watch received the information through two separate Freedom of Information Act requests.
"The Obamas’ notorious abuse of presidential travel perks wasted military resources and stressed the Secret Service," said Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton in a press release. "Judicial Watch estimates that the final costs of Obama’s unnecessary vacation and political travel will well exceed $100 million."
And according to Fitton, there can be something done about the exuberant cost of presidential air travel.
"President-elect Trump can immediately save taxpayers money by reforming presidential travel," he said.
More from Judicial Watch:
The reports contain information regarding Obama’s Earth Day trip to the Florida Everglades, a political fundraising trip to San Diego, Michelle Obama’s annual Aspen ski trip, her trip to Morocco, a family vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, as well as Hillary’s ride with Obama on Air Force One to North Carolina.
In addition, Judicial Watch included an itemized list of some of Obama's more notorious trips, including a $360,000 trip Obama took with Hillary Clinton to a Clinton campaign rally in North Carolina in July.
And according to WND.com, the huge amount of money Obama spent on air travel is likely one of the largest contradictions he ever made. In 2008, when he was campaigning for the White House, Obama vowed that he would give up vacations and leisure time for the sake of the nation and to cut back on presidential travel costs.
Obviously, that never happened.
Chris Enloe
Staff Writer