President Obama has faced withering criticism this week for failing to attend the Paris March Against Terrorism — and then finally sending Secretary of State John Kerry (along with washed-up singer James Taylor) to serenade the French with the embarrassing smooth 70s hit “You’ve Got A Friend.”
But don’t worry about Obama. He has still found ample time this month for international jet-setting.
Next week, both the president and first lady Michelle Obama (and, of course, a large retinue) will travel at taxpayer expense to beautiful, exotic India.
The three-day jaunt will start Jan. 25, reports India-West, an online newspaper aimed at Indian-Americans.
For the political part of his trip, Obama will speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about a host of bilateral issues including nuclear cooperation and military and defense relations. India and the United States have already agreed to renew a 10-year defense accord.
There will also be a roundtable with Indian CEOs and a town hall-type event.
The president will also take part in India’s Republic Day celebrations and he will be the guest of honor at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Republic Day honors the date when the Constitution of India took effect (Jan. 26, 1950).
Obama will also take the first lady to the Taj Mahal in Agra (about 140 miles south of New Delhi).
The Taj Mahal, perhaps the world’s most famous architectural testament of love, is a gleaming, white marble mausoleum constructed under the orders of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Shah Jahan, an orthodox Muslim, was an emperor for 30 years during a very prosperous time under his dynasty’s leadership.
The visit to India, Obama’s second, adds to his family’s impressive run of sweet luxury vacations.
The world-traveling presidential family and an entire entourage just recently returned from a long, expensive vacation in Hawaii.
Back in March 2014, the whole Obama clan faced the prospect of cutting a mini-vacation in sunny Key Largo, Fla. short because of Russia’s meddling in Ukraine. It was sad, too, because the first family wanted some rest and relaxation away from the cold, snowy doldrums of Washington, D.C. (RELATED: OH NO! Obama May Have To Cut Third Vacation THIS YEAR Short Because Of Ukraine)
That same month, Michelle Obama and the first daughters Malia and Sasha jetted off to China for over a week of much-needed sightseeing. (RELATED: Globetrotting Michelle Obama Announces Luxurious Vacation To China)
As of July 2014, the Obama clan had already spend a whopping $44,351,777.12 in taxpayer funds on vacations. That dollar amount is obviously substantially higher now. (RELATED: The Obamas Have Spent Over $44 Million In Taxpayer Cash On Travel)
In 2008, then-candidate Obama promised gullible New York Times columnist Bob Herbert that he would not take vacations if he were elected president. (VIDEO FLASHBACK: Obama Promises No Vacations For Himself As President)
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