President Donald Trump has donated the first three months of his salary to a government agency which conserves America’s parks.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer held up a cheque for $78,333.32 in front of reporters, the first quarterly chunk of the US leader’s salary.
The money will go to the National Parks Service, a government body that manages all of the country’s parks.
Making the announcement to media, Mr Spicer said: “I wanted to give you a quick update on something. I know in the past there's been several questions about the President donating his salary to charity. I've got an update for you on that.
"To that end the President has spoken with council and made the decision to donate his first quarter salary in total to a government entity and he has chosen, this quarter, to donate it to the National Parks Service.
"The Parks Service has cared for our parks since 1916 and the President is personally proud to contribute the first quarter of his salary to the important mission of the park service which is preserving our country’s national security.”
But critics pointed out the gift was going to an agency whose funding the President wants to cut by $1 billion.
President Trump, who has promised to donate his $400,000 annual salary, yesterday hosted Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the White House.
