The White House has approved more than $1 million in travel costs since May for Tom Price, the Health and Human Services Secretary, to fly military jets to Europe and Asia.
Since this information became public knowledge, Price has resigned and promised to pay back the money for the cost of his own seat on the charted flights, but not that of his staff, a total of $50,000 out of the overall cost of $400,000. Taxpayers will pick up the remainder of the cost.
During a press conference on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders claimed the White House had no role in approving charted flights, but that has since been proven false––in fact a White House official did approve the flights.
The hypocrisy of wasteful spending by public officials as the GOP has been fighting to cut health care, lobbying to give takes breaks to the rich while doing little to nothing to help the American citizens suffering in Puerto Rico, is causing people to collectively lose their minds.
Twitter could barely contain its rage.
Colin Kaepernick kneeled and donated a million to Americans
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) September 29, 2017
Tom Price stood and stole a million from Americans
Who is a real patriot?
Entitlement. Arrogance. Cluelessness. Yes, true of Tom Price & other cabinet members, but role-modeled and enabled by Trump.
— Tony Schwartz (@tonyschwartz) September 29, 2017
Secretary Tom Price's resignation should be the first of many. Waste, fraud and abuse runs rampant in the Trump Administration.
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) September 30, 2017
Wasn’t @KellyannePolls on at least one of Price’s private plane junkets too? Does being a Mercerite insulate her? https://t.co/pl4mTY17H3
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) September 30, 2017
Trump said it would be difficult for Tom Price to keep his job after spending $1 M on personal travel.
— J. Dice 🎲 (@jdice03) September 30, 2017
👉 Trump has spent $70 M on golf. pic.twitter.com/7l7bxmsqtr
For the record:
— Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) September 29, 2017
Senate Dems warned GOP Tom Price had a history of financial ethics problems.
GOP REWROTE COMMITTEE RULES to confirm him.
Tom Price has joined the Mile Bye Club
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) September 30, 2017
- Tom Price resigns after private flight scandal
— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) September 30, 2017
- Trump tells Puerto Rico he "will not rest"
- Trump flies Air Force One to his golf course
Dear Tom Price,
— Simar (@sahluwal) September 29, 2017
You still owe US tax payers $948,000. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Signed,
Americans#ByeFelicia
So Tom Price resigned. It's not enough. The entire Cabinet is doing what he did, so is Trump. They ALL have to go. NOW. Looting America.
— Mona (@Monaheart1229) September 29, 2017
Tom Price advocated policies that sought to take away healthcare from our children while flying in private jets on our dime. That’s everything you need to know about this White House.
— Simar (@sahluwal) September 29, 2017
I hear Tom Price didn’t know he was fired for two hours because his phone was on private airplane mode
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) September 29, 2017
#TomPrice resigned as the head of HHS good thing he has enough frequent flyer miles to fly home for free! #TeamDl
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) September 29, 2017
Let's just Remember that while *45 Withheld #PuertoRicoRelief,
— Rey 🇺🇸 (@1Jedi_Rey) September 29, 2017
Tom Price wasted $1M+ of Taxpayer💰 on Private Charter Jets😒#ThePriceIsWrong pic.twitter.com/8urMB5KQrI
Tom Price story reminds me of the couple times I've seen Kathleen Sebelius in the commercial airport. She was an HHS sec for the people
— John Legend (@johnlegend) September 29, 2017