Donald Trump has honored his pledge not to take a $400,000 a year salary while he’s President, a promise he made and repeated during the campaign, Heat Street has learned.
A White House spokesperson confirmed that as of today, President Trump “has not collected a salary” to which he’s entitled for his duties. “This process is ongoing,” the White House added.
It hasn’t yet been revealed what steps the administration took to ensure the President won’t be receiving any of the pay outlined by Title 3 of the U.S Code.
That is the section to lay out compensation for the president:
The President shall receive in full for his services during the term for which he shall have been elected compensation in the aggregate amount of $400,000 a year, to be paid monthly, and in addition an expense allowance of $50,000 to assist in defraying expenses relating to or resulting from the discharge of his official duties. … He shall be entitled also to the use of the furniture and other effects belonging to the United States and kept in the Executive Residence at the White House.
The President first pledged not to take a pay on the campaign trail in September 2015, claiming that working for no salary “was not a big deal” for him because of his wealth.
He repeated the promise during his first television interview as President-elect back in November, telling CBS News’ Leslie Stahl that he won’t take a salary while he’s President, adding that he didn’t even know how much he’s entitled.
“I think I have to by law take $1, so I’ll take $1 a year,” then President-elect said. “I don’t even know what it is. Do you know what the salary is?”
“$400,000 you’re giving up,” Stahl replied.
“No, I’m not gonna take the salary. I’m not taking it.”
By not taking the salary, Trump has become the third President to decline the compensation for Presidential duties. Herbert Hoover and John F. Kennedy donated their salaries to charity.
