Trump says he donates ‘a lot’ of his salary to White House maintenance after Biden ‘neglected’ it

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday, October 23, that he donates a significant portion of his salary to the White House to maintain the presidential residence, which he says had fallen into neglect during Joe Biden’s administration.

Speaking from the East Room, Trump said he has been personally funding upkeep and improvements around the executive mansion, describing the property as “abandoned” when he returned to office earlier this year.

Donald Trump says he ‘takes good care’ of White House

“I give a lot of money to the White House… I give my salary, and I usually like to steer it to the White House because this was a little bit abandoned,” Trump told reporters. “This house was not taken care of the way it was supposed to be, and I take very good care of it.”

The 47th president, who reclaimed the Oval Office in January 2025, said his contributions have helped restore the historic home’s shine. “It’s starting to gleam like it should,” he added proudly.

Trump’s remarks come amid a partial government shutdown, now stretching into its third week, which has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers, including military personnel, without pay. Despite the shutdown, Trump emphasized that the White House itself would not be affected, thanks to his personal commitment to its maintenance.

Donald Trump says wealthy donor gave $130 million for troops amid shutdown shutdown

During the same event, Trump announced that a wealthy private donor had contributed $130 million to help cover military salaries while the government remains shuttered.

“The donor — a great friend of mine — called the White House personally to make the offer,” Trump said, adding that he would not disclose the person’s identity. “Received a check for $130 million from a private donor for any military salary shortfall.”

Trump said he has instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to “use all available funds” to ensure that United States troops are paid, citing his authority as Commander in Chief.

“The necessary funds have been identified and will be released,” he assured.

Government shutdown deepens political stalemate in Washington

The shutdown began after Senate Democrats blocked a Republican-led resolution to reopen federal agencies before the September 30 funding deadline. The main sticking point, sources say, is the Democrats’ refusal to address expiring health insurance subsidies that keep coverage affordable for roughly 24 million Americans.

As the stalemate continues, several states including California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Texas have warned that food aid benefits could run out by November if federal funding isn’t restored soon.

Still, Trump insisted that his administration is working around the clock to protect essential services and prioritize the needs of military families. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure our troops and their families don’t suffer,” he said.