#31. @realDonaldTrump If you want to shrink the federal budget, why are you spending so much time at Mar-a-Lago? #100Days100Qs

Mr. President, if you want to shrink the federal budget, why are you spending so much time at Mar-a-Lago?

What’s wrong with Camp David?

For the past three weekends, President Donald Trump has flown to Mar-a-Lago, the exclusive club he owns in Palm Beach, Florida, which he has dubbed the “Winter White House.”

Presidential trips to their own retreats are a tradition, but the frequency and expense of Trump's trips are something of an outlier. While the president pays for his own expenses, the bill for his security and the travel of his advisers is picked up by Uncle Sam.

Over the course of his presidency, Barack Obama spent $97 million on travel — a total Trump is on pace to exceed by the end of the year.

Trump repeatedly criticized Obama’s trips and golfing, but has traveled and played golf nearly every weekend of his presidency.

Among the biggest costs is Air Force One, at about $180,000 per hour. There’s also the cost of the Secret Service, the US Coast Guard local law enforcement overtime, which is being used to supplement the presidential protection. 

Taxpayer costs aside, some businesses around Palm Beach are suffering because of the strict security. The Palm Beach airport also lost business — flight lessons have been cancelled and take offs and landings grind to a hault during Trump’s visits.

So Mr. President, we're wondering why you're spending tax payer money this way. Click here to ask the question to the president. 

Over President Donald Trump's roughly first 100 days, we'll be asking him questions that our audience wants answers to. Join the project by tweeting this question to @realDonaldTrump with the hashtag #100Days100Qs. See more of our questions at pri.org/100questions.