In a time where children are growing up on social media, the many restrictions placed on first children can be very taxing. During Obama’s presidency, Sasha and Malia Obama were not allowed to open Twitter accounts and they had very limited access to Facebook. Although it’s surely an honor to be a part of the first family, it can be hard for children to be isolated from doing what other kids are doing. Dr. Jim Ronan, author, and professor of political science at Villanova University listed another setback that former presidents have discussed and that’s missing out on their children’s school events and hobbies. The amount of security that would need to be present at such events would be overwhelming. For this reason, some presidents’ children attended school right in the White House (complete with a classroom and a playground).
Conveniently enough, Michelle Obama isn’t such a fan of social media for young children anyways. She shared “I still am not a big believer in Facebook for young people … particularly for them, because they’re in the public eye. Some of it’s stuff they don’t need to see and be a part of … So we try to protect them from too much of the public voice.” Another interesting word on social media; it was recently reported that the president cannot block people on social media as it goes against the First Amendment.
Interior Design Rules
If you imagine the first family dancing and prancing around the White House wherever their heart pleases and doing what they wish, you are sorely mistaken. There are rooms that even the first family is prohibited from changing. Among the rooms which the First Family can't change are the Oval Office and the Lincoln Bedroom. The White House mirrors more a museum than an actual house. In September 1961, Congress put into place legislation declaring the White House to be a museum. This legislation allowed the President to declare furniture, fixtures, and decorative arts as historic or of artistic interest. This prevented the items from being sold (as many objects in the mansion had been in the past 150 years). When the items aren't in use or on display at the White House, they are handed over to the Smithsonian Institution for preservation, study, storage, or exhibition. The White House exercises the right to have these items returned.
Some decoration changes require the approval by the historical committee that oversees the White House, the Committee for the Preservation of the White House. This committee is responsible for maintaining the historical integrity of the White House. They work with each First Family, usually represented by the First Lady, the White House Curator, and the Chief Usher, to carry out the family's proposals for making changes in the home. The First Family is free to make decoration changes on the second and third floors as they wish. These are the private quarters and they include more than a dozen rooms over two floors. The First Family can bring in their own furniture, bedding, rugs, and decorations. Plus, they can repaint the walls.
The Secret Service
After President McKinley passed away in 1901, Congress passed a law that officially charged the secret service with protecting the president and their family. The secret service also has the responsibility of protecting the vice president’s family and the president-elect and vice president-elect in the event of an election year.
There are, however, certain family members who refuse the protection of the secret service. For example, in September 2017, Donald Trump Jr. gave up his right to be protected by the secret service.
Earning Some Extra Money
Everybody likes to earn a little extra cash, right? Well, while the president earns a hefty $400,000 per year, he's forbidden from earning more money outside of his salary. So, don't expect to be seeing the president moonlighting anytime soon.
If the president owns a business prior to taking office, they must take a hands-off approach to how it is run. Meaning, they must leave the business in somebody else's hands. If they have investments (which almost every president does) it must go into a blind trust during their time in service.
The Law
Donald Trump, as a candidate for president in 2016, famously boasted that he "could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody" and wouldn't lose any of his voters. And who knows what would happen if he actually did. While it would seem that the president is above the law, they are expected to follow laws just like the rest of us. Meaning, they aren't allowed to break laws and are charged for breaking the law like any other average citizen. Keep in mind, being charged with a crime and actually facing punishment aren't the same thing.
If a sitting president violates the law during their term in office, Congress deals with the situation as they see fit. The House of Representatives can act to impeach a president while the Senate can have the president taken to court, just like any other citizen.