New York: Nearly 100,000 US citizens have signed a petition demanding that Melania Trump leave New York, as they do not want to pay for her security. It was announced that the soon to be first lady would continue staying in Trump Tower until her son finishes his current academic year.
Traditionally, the family of the new president elect immediately moves into the White house in Washington. According to the Independent, the security cost to keep Melania in the luxurious penthouse in the 58-story skyscraper in midtown Manhattan amounts to $1,000,000 a day, which is paid out of the Taxpayers money.
The petition asks the Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, and City Mayor Bill De Blasio to refuse to pay for Melania’s protection after Trump moves out of the Trump Tower.
“If this decision has been made, between the two of them they should be the ones to pay for it. Not New York taxpayer dollars that could be used on roads, schools, transit, sanitation, new jobs and other expenses that the city has,” one of the petitioners wrote. They added: “This is what tax dollars should be used for, improvements for the city and all the people of the city, not just one.”
According to a close source of the Independent, Melania became extremely close to her 10-year-old son Barron Trump during the campaign trail and does not want to disrupt his academic calendar.
“No official statement has been released by the Trump family regarding transition timing, but like any parents, they are concerned about pulling their 10-year-old son out of school in the middle of the year”, said Janson Miller, a spokesman for Donald Trump.
As Trump Tower is located in a busy street and has been surrounded by protesters, members of the press and police since the election result, their staying back would create a security challenge for the Secret Service and the New York Police Department.
If his family stays back, it is likely that Trump would fly back frequently to visit them. During the campaign, Trump was known to fly back late at night just to wake up in his own bed.
