Opinion: Trump’s next travel ban should be for his own family

To the editor: I’ll start by stating my liberal bias upfront: I did not vote for President Trump and do not agree with most of his policies. That said, I have been willing to grant him the benefit of the doubt — until now. (“Trump’s multiple residences, large jet-setting family and commuter marriage drive up first family travel and protection costs,” May 8)

To expect the taxpayers to continue to support the travel and protection costs of the extended Trump family is obscene. Yes, the president, his spouse and his children are entitled to Secret Service protection, but also for three different homes? For his sons’ overseas business trips?

The Trump Organization should reimburse the government for security costs during business travel of the Trump children. Many corporations provide security for their executives as a cost of doing business.

This is a man who would dismantle healthcare and other benefits for the neediest Americans, yet expects those same Americans to help foot his extravagant travel bills. Maybe it’s time that he apply the travel ban to himself.

Iris Ingram, Long Beach

..

To the editor: As a hospitality employee in Southern California, I witnessed what happens — and the expense involved — when the president travels and stays in a hotel.

There are the Secret Service agents who arrive one week prior to the president, the many panes of “special glass” rolled in, the barricades, the dogs, the entire floors of a hotel rented and wired for the occasion and much more.

In my case, this was for a brief visit involving fundraisers and a round of golf at a high-end municipal course, which was closed to the public that day. I mention this because The Times did not cover that trip last fall.

Gary B. Keough, Carlsbad

..

To the editor: Trump’s travel bill is a totally egregious use of taxpayer money for him and his family. Why not use Camp David for weekend getaways, as many other presidents have?

Paying for security on his children’s junkets around the world for their own private business developments is obscene. Trump has spent more taxpayer money on travel in his first 100 days than President Obama spent in a year.

Michael B. Natelson, Newport Beach

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook