Why is Melania Trump spending $150,000 a day?

It’s been five months since Donald Trump was sworn in as president of the United States, and his wife is finally ready to move in.

While Trump took up residence in the White House, the first lady remained at Trump Towers in New York with their son, Barron – a decision that required a full security detail and cost US taxpayers nearly $150,000 a day.  

This is the first time a first lady has delayed her move to the White House in modern history.

The Trump family has repeatedly come under fire for exorbitant security costs to cover the four residences they frequent. Earlier this year, a letter from US police commissioner James P. O’Neill stated that it costs between $127,000 and $146,000 per day “to protect the first lady and her son while they reside in Trump Tower”.

This cost more than doubles if the president returns to New York to visit his family. If the living arrangements had continued, US taxpayers would be paying up to $60 million a year.

In March this year, a petition appeared on Change.org, demanding that the first lady move to Washington to cut costs, or “pay for the expenses herself”. The petition has since attracted more than half a million signatures. 

The big move to Washington D.C. was timed around Barron Trump’s school year. Now that the summer holidays are in session, Barron can make the move with his mother and start at a new school in Maryland when term begins.

The first lady and Barron will move in to the White House on Wednesday, June 14 according to Politico. The timing is perfect – June 14 happens to be President Trump’s 71^st birthday, and he’ll get to spend it with his family.

US taxpayers aren’t the only ones who are happy about the change; a former Trump campaign aide has also commented about the issue.

Sam Nunberg was fired in 2015 over alleged racist posts on Facebook, but the split doesn’t seem to have poisoned the well too much.

“I’m very happy she’s moving here,” said Nunberg about Melania’s Washington plans. “She’s a strong influence and personality, and I think she comforts him.”

Donald Trump has yet to publicly acknowledge the move on Twitter (his preferred method of communication); he’s been unusually quiet on the platform for two days.  

Do you think Melania Trump should have moved to the White House in January? Or did she make the right decision for her son?