Does trump get a salary for being president

1. The law: how much the president is paid and who sets it

Congress determines the president’s base pay, which since 2001 has been $400,000 per year; the Constitution bars any salary change from taking effect until the next presidential term, so the $400,000 figure is a statutory constant unless Congress acts and the change waits until a later term ^[2]. Reporting repeats that administrators also get a $50,000 expense allowance, a $100,000 travel account and a $19,000 entertainment account as part of the overall package ^{[2] [6]}.

2. Practical reporting: Trump’s salary in 2017–2021 and 2025

Multiple outlets note that Donald Trump received the standard $400,000 presidential salary during his first term (2017–2021) and that the same base salary applies for his second term beginning 2025 ^{[1] [4]}. News stories and background pieces list the $400,000 figure as the expected, legally mandated annual pay for the sitting president ^{[7] [8]}.

3. Donation claims and what reporters say Trump did

News outlets report Trump has, at times, donated presidential paychecks: during his first term he donated salary payments to federal agencies and, in 2025 reports, he stated he donated a paycheck to the White House Historical Association for renovations ^{[5] [6]}. Coverage also notes Trump has claimed he was “the only” president to donate a salary, a statement fact-checkers and historians have contested by pointing to prior presidents who refused or donated pay ^[6]. Available sources do not provide a complete ledger of every paycheck donated or the exact amounts still held or routed in 2025.

4. What’s included beyond the base salary

Reporting highlights that the headline $400,000 does not capture the full financial picture of the office: the statutory package includes the $50,000 expense allowance plus travel and entertainment accounts, and presidents typically receive logistical support and official benefits (protection, housing, staff, transport) not reflected in the cash salary ^{[2] [3]}. Journalists also note that travel and related official costs often far exceed small allowances and are handled separately ^[7].

5. Why the salary matters politically and rhetorically

The $400,000 number is frequently cited to make political points about wealth and motivation: outlets emphasize that Trump is a billionaire and that the six-figure presidential salary is modest in comparison to his private wealth, which commentators say is largely tied to holdings such as Trump Media stock ^[4]. Reporting also covers the political messaging when presidents publicly donate pay—such moves are framed as symbolic gestures, while some reporting notes presidents before Trump also gave up or redirected pay ^[6].

6. Competing viewpoints and limitations of the record

Sources agree on the statutory $400,000 figure ^{[2] [1]}, but differ in emphasis: some focus on legal structure and allowances ^{[2] [3]}, others on Trump’s personal wealth and the symbolic nature of donations ^{[4] [6]}. Available sources do not present a comprehensive, itemized public accounting of each paycheck Trump has donated in 2025 or how much of the presidential pay—if any—he retained versus redirected beyond the cited examples ^{[5] [6]}.

7. Bottom line for readers

Yes: under U.S. law the president receives a $400,000 annual salary paid monthly, plus statutory allowances; reporting shows Donald Trump has been paid that salary in both his prior and current terms and has publicly said he donated portions of it, though the full accounting of donations and their recipients is not fully documented in the cited pieces ^{[2] [1] [5]}.