White House balks at cost, mother’s agenda for Michelle’s Italy, London trip

Q — Hi. Thank you. I know a lot of times when the First Lady does these trips a lot of media outlets try to estimate the cost of the trip, and I know that the White House is usually reluctant to give a price. But a lot of times those estimates can be very high, and I think a lot of times they get that from just estimating the costs of staying in some of these places. Is there anything you can do to talk about cost and maybe whether or not those estimates are on base? I mean, is the First Lady and her mother and daughters, and everyone who goes along with her, are they paying the full price to stay at all of these hotels? Or is there anything you can give us on what a cost of a trip like this may be?

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Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, takes a bow after they danced with children during a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg. (AP Photo)

MS. TCHEN: Actually, Julie, I don’t have anything I can give you on that.

Q Okay. Well then can I also ask just — what will the participation levels be of Sasha and Malia and Mrs. Robinson? Will they be attending all of these events? And what will their role be in the trip?

MS. TCHEN: They will attend some of the events. I don’t have a schedule for you or a readout on what they’ll participate in or not, but they will be involved in some aspects of the trip. But I don’t have any information right now on exactly what those will be.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].