Trump says he gets ‘no credit’ for taking $0 salary — Biden got $1.6M, Obama $3.2M. But does he really work ‘for free’?

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Most radical expect a wage for a full-time job. But President Donald Trump says helium didn't instrumentality one.

Speaking astatine a caller lawsuit successful Rome, Georgia, Trump said helium forwent millions of dollars by "waiving" his statesmanlike wage — and claimed to beryllium the lone president to person done truthful (1).

"I waived it. I'm the lone president that ever waived it," helium said. "We've had affluent presidents before. In the past of our country, there's ne'er been a president that waved his salary. I'm the lone schmuck. I get nary recognition for it."

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He added that it's nary tiny amount: "It's inactive a mates of cardinal bucks. It's not peanuts."

The wage of the U.S. president is $400,000 a twelvemonth — meaning a afloat word adds up to 7 figures.

However, critics were speedy to situation 1 portion of Trump's claim: that he's the lone president to forgo a salary. The New York Times reported that some "John F. Kennedy and Herbert Hoover donated theirs to foundation due to the fact that they were among the wealthiest to service successful the relation (2)."

But the communicative doesn't extremity there.

In a caller station connected Truth Social, Trump shared a screenshot of a station by Bo Loudon, a 19-year-old societal media influencer (3). The station listed the "total magnitude of payer $ the past 10 Presidents took arsenic salary," claiming: "Trump: $0.00 Biden: $1.6 Million Obama: $3.2 Million W Bush: $3.2 Million…" going backmost to Richard Nixon.

While Loudon did not mention a source, the figures for Barack Obama, Joe Biden and George W. Bush look to beryllium based connected the existent $400,000 yearly statesmanlike wage — which took effect during Bush's presidency. Obama and Bush each served 8 years, earning $3.2 million, portion Biden's four-year word totaled $1.6 million.

As Trump highlighted his zero salary, supporters echoed the message. "Our President works for free," 1 station work (4).

Critics, however, reason the absorption connected wage misses the bigger picture, noting the magnitude is tiny compared to a billionaire's broader fiscal interests

"Trump has made billions exploiting his powerfulness arsenic president. Why would helium request a salary? That's peanuts," wrote economist Peter Schiff, who supported Trump during the 2024 predetermination (5). "He gives up his tiny wage arsenic a publicity stunt to make the mendacious content that he's not successful it for the money."