MONEY Here's how much taxpayers spend to support former presidents Paper clips, phone bills, and movie channels are just some of the expenses American taxpayers pick up for former presidents. Author: Bill McGinty Published: 9:12 AM EST January 19, 2021 Updated: 6:29 PM EST January 19, 2021 CHARLOTTE, N.C. — At noon on Wednesday, Jan. 20, President Donald Trump will join the four living former presidents in that exclusive club and once again become a private citizen. That means taxpayers will be on the hook to subsidize a lot of Trump's expenses, just like they do for the others. In 1958, former President Harry Truman was living only on his World War I Army pension and told Congress he couldn’t afford postage stamps for "official business." Congress responded with the Presidential Pension Act of 1958, giving Truman a retirement salary of $25,000, some benefits and a staff.