Full Answer
How much do Trump's vacations to Mar-a-Lago cost taxpayers?
According to the Washington Post, Trump has taken some 19 trips to Mar-a-Lago during his presidency so far. If the average cost of $3.4 million for the first four trips is extrapolated, that means the president's vacations have cost taxpayers at least $64.6 million.
How much does Trump spend on security at Mar-a-Lago?
That's on top of more than $118 million in U.S. taxpayer funds the president has soaked up for travel to his resort and security. President Donald Trump ’s 27 trips to play golf at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida have cost Palm Beach County $13.8 million for local security as of spring 2019, according to county documents.
How many times has Trump golfed at Mar-a-Lago?
In 2017-18, Trump spent 69 days of his presidency in Mar-a-Lago, a Palm Beach, Florida, resort owned by the Trump Organization ; 33 at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club; and 31 at Trump National in Sterling, Virginia, according to USA TODAY in June 2018. By this May 25, the president had visited a Trump golf course 266 times, CNN reported.
How much do Trump's trips to the golf course cost taxpayers?
But that presidential rest and recreation comes with a cost. A new report from the Government Accountability Office says four such trips early on in Trump's presidency cost taxpayers $13.6 million, or some $3.4 million each.
How much did Trump's trip to Mar-a-Lago cost?
Trump's Trips To Mar-a-Lago Cost Taxpayers $3.4 Million Each The GAO looked into four trips early on in the Trump presidency, estimating they cost $13.6 million. The watchdog agency says the Secret Service needs to do a better job of reporting the costs.
How many trips has Trump taken to Mar-a-Lago?
According to the Washington Post, Trump has taken some 19 trips to Mar-a-Lago during his presidency so far. If the average cost of $3.4 million for the first four trips is extrapolated, that means the president's vacations have cost taxpayers at least $64.6 million.
How much did the Secret Service spend on Trump's sons?
The congressional watchdog's report is the first official accounting of Trump's travel costs. The report also found that the Secret Service spent nearly $400,000 protecting Trump's sons Donald Jr. and Eric on trips they took in January and February 2017.
Where did Obama take his vacation?
President Obama came under criticism from some conservatives and by Trump for flights he took to his home state of Hawaii as well as to vacation spots such as Martha's Vineyard. Before entering politics, Trump often tweeted criticisms about the high cost of presidential travel. According to the Washington Post, ...
Is Mar-a-Lago a taxpayer funded hotel?
Trump's frequent visits to Mar-a-Lago, other Trump-branded golf courses and his hotel in Washington, D.C., have been criticized as serving as taxpayer-funded advertising for his business interests. The GAO report was requested by congressional Democrats.
How much did Trump spend on Mar-a-Lago?
Using the same data for a February 2019 report, the Washington Post estimated Trump's trips to Mar-a-Lago alone cost the U.S. taxpayer approximately $64 million during his first two years in office. Roughly $10.6 million was spent on operating costs for government aircraft and boats and $3 million on temporary duty costs including transportation, ...
How many times did Donald Trump visit the golf course?
By this May 25, the president had visited a Trump golf course 266 times, CNN reported.
How many golf trips did Trump make to Bedminster?
Trump has played golf during 24 of 96 trips to Bedminster since the beginning of his presidency, according to a table maintained by TrumpGolfCount.com. But Kessler questioned the practice of attributing travel costs for the president and his support staff exclusively to golf.
How much did Trump pay per hour in 2019?
The rate was $165,000 per hour in 2019, according to the Pentagon, as reported by USA TODAY. Post reporter Philip Bump reported Trump made 19 trips to Mar-a-Lago between January 2017 and February 2019.
Who keeps track of Trump golfing?
Sophie Germain has kept track of the president's golfing and its costs at the Trump Golf Count site since his 2017 inauguration. USA TODAY has reached out to her for comment.
Does Trump own Bedminster?
As for Trump's trips to Bedminster: The president owns a house in the New Jersey suburb, so members of the press are not allowed access to the club, according to Trump Golf Count .
Is golf a primary form of exercise for Trump?
The Washington Post, July 20, 2018: "Trump says golf is his ‘primary form of exercise.’ We talked to an expert about how effective that is."
What can affect the cost to taxpayers from trip to trip?
Other details can, on a smaller scale, affect the cost to taxpayers from trip to trip, such as the number of staff traveling with the president or the number of venues that need a security sweep. Or if the trip is for a non-official political event or vacation, the president and others traveling with him reimburse the government for some of the costs.
How much did Obama spend on travel?
Judicial Watch, a conservative-leaning organization that has sued both Democratic and Republican administrations, estimated that the Obama administration spent more than $96 million over his eight years on presidential travel, based on records they obtained from the military and Secret Service. The group’s director, Tom Fitton, has said they’re also examining how much Trump’s travel is costing taxpayers.
Where is Melania Trump now?
And beyond Trump himself, the government is spending at least hundreds of thousands of dollars protecting Trump’s family, including first lady Melania Trump who’s currently living in New York City with their son Barron, and sons Donald and Eric as they travel around the world on business.
Is Trump's trip to Mar-a-Lago expensive?
No doubt, a presidential trip out of Washington is expensive. It's reasonable to assume that Trump's multiple weekends at Mar-a-Lago cost taxpayers millions.
Is it fair to assume that those costs are typical for presidential travel?
It’s not fair to assume that those costs are typical for presidential travel, the author of the report told us.
Did the report estimate the costs of Trump's weekend escapes to the Southern White House?
The report did not estimate the specific costs of Trump’s weekend escapes to the so-called Southern White House, though a reader would get that impression.
Can a president fly to Palm Beach?
For example, a president could take two identical weekend trips to Palm Beach, both trips requiring a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. But one trip could cost a good deal more than the other depending on where the C-130 has to fly in from. Military logistics could mean that one week it comes from Delaware, the next from Texas.
How much did Donald Trump raise his golf tab?
President Donald Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago on Friday evening for the 29th golf-related trip of his presidency to his for-profit Palm Beach, Florida, resort, raising his total taxpayer golf tab to $133.8 million.
How much does the Secret Service charge for Mar-a-Lago?
The Washington Post found recently that Trump’s business has charged the Secret Service as much as $650 a room per night at Mar-a-Lago ― more than three times the normal rate that federal employees are supposed to spend in South Florida ― and $17,000 a month for a cottage at Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey, resort. During an early Mar-a-Lago visit, White House employees ran up a $1,006 bar tab, which taxpayers also paid.
Who Are Trump's Golf Partners?
Some golf partners are counted toward more than one category. Mouse over bars for names of partners, or see our partner table for a detailed list.
Did Trump make a promise to the American people?
Our President made a promise to the American people. Here we track his fulfillment of that promise. You can view our full list of Trump's golf outings here, and see this explanation for more information. Or just watch this video to hear it straight from the President himself.