White House Refuses To Disclose Cost Of Michelle Obama’s Taxpayer-Funded China Trip

By: Kristin Tate Mar 18, 2014

Michelle Obama, her two kids, her mother, and numerous aides will enjoy a taxpayer-funded trip to China from March 19 to March 26. White House officials refuse to tell U.S. taxpayers how much they will shell out for the trip, likely due to inevitable media scrutiny.

Michelle Obama’s top aide, Tina Tchen will be joining on the trip. She said, ”We are not discussing or disclosing information regarding the details of the logistics of the trip.”

Still, the aide did not try to conceal her excitement. She said, “I think we are all, here in the First Lady’s office, quite excited about the upcoming trip… I think the First Lady is very much looking forward to it.”

The Chinese trip will undeniably be expensive. But Ben Rhodes, the White House’s deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, insisted that the price tag is well worth it. He said, “The most powerful message we can deliver [to Chinese people] is one of the examples of not just the First Lady’s life story but of America and our values. That alone I think speaks to things like respect for human rights that are interwoven into the DNA of the United States of America… The First Lady’s story itself sends a powerful message about the ability of someone of a disadvantaged economic background from a minority group to ascend to the position that she did in private life and now as First Lady.”

He added, “Everywhere that [Michelle] has traveled independently, she has had a tremendous reception and has been able to connect with audiences from Asia to Africa to the Americas… We have differences with China on a host of issues, so it’s a relationship that allows for both a constructive cooperation, and candor when we disagree.”

BEN SWANN.COM

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Permalink Reply by Central Scrutinizer on March 18, 2014 at 12:32pm

who voted for this Wookie????.....why we paying for this usurper's useless POS facade wife to go eat Moo Goo Gai Pan????

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Permalink Reply by Central Scrutinizer on March 21, 2014 at 1:49am

Photo by: Alexander F. Yuan

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, front left, her daughters Sasha, front right, Malia, right in the back, andMichelle Obama's mother Marian Robinson, left in the back, arrive at Capital International Airport in Beijing, China, Thursday, March 20, 2014. Michelle Obama has arrived in Beijing with her mother and daughters to kick off a seven-day, three-city tour where she will focus on education and cultural exchange. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan, Pool

Obama ladies touch down in China amid taxpayer uproar

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Permalink Reply by 14300 on March 22, 2014 at 11:29pm

What's up with all the casual "black/brown" wardrobes?? Not an attractive first impression.

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Permalink Reply by Nobody Will Observe on March 21, 2014 at 3:12am

Don't ask why, just be patriotic!!! ;)

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Permalink Reply by Nobody Will Observe on March 21, 2014 at 3:13am

Racist! ;)

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Permalink Reply by Central Scrutinizer on March 21, 2014 at 10:17am

Michelle Obama Bans Media Questions During China Trip

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Permalink Reply by Central Scrutinizer on March 21, 2014 at 10:33am

White House Asks for E-Mails to 'Participate' in Michelle O's China...

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Permalink Reply by Central Scrutinizer on March 22, 2014 at 1:09am

HOTEL STAFF COMPLAINS ABOUT OBAMA MOTHER IN CHINA

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Permalink Reply by 14300 on March 22, 2014 at 11:27pm

The Chinese Hotel is costing $8,360. approx per day for the 4 women - and that's just the hotel room. So just the cost for one weeks hotel will cost all of us hard working taxpayers approx. $58K. for the 7 days. That does NOT include the costs of the entourage of 40 people with her for secret service protection.