A pair of President Donald Trump’s recent weekend trips to his Mar-a-Lago resort cost taxpayers more than $1.2 million, new documents released by a conservative group show.
The documents made public Thursday by Judicial Watch are some of the first to put even part of a price tag on Trump’s frequent visits to his Palm Beach, Florida, club. The numbers reflect only the costs associated with the president’s plane, Air Force One. Not included are expenses for Secret Service protection or support vehicles provided by the Department of Defense, which must be airlifted into place.
A Trump trip in early February cost about $670,000, and a second trip in March cost about $612,000, according to the U.S. Air Force, which operates and maintains Air Force One. He’s visited seven times as president.
Judicial Watch obtained the documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The group has spent years studying the cost of presidential travel and has argued that taxpayers are bearing far too much of the costs. Tom Fitton, president of the group, previously told The Associated Press that Trump should be transparent about the expense of his trips and should make the case to the American public that it is important for him to be at his resort.
Trump has used Mar-a-Lago – which not only is a vacation home but also a for-profit resort that charges $200,000 for memberships – to entertain foreign dignitaries and to meet with members of his Cabinet and senior leadership team.
Based on other travel reports for other presidents, Defense Department costs far exceed all other expenses related to such trips. Judicial Watch did not request that information, although its request for Secret Service expenses is pending, Judicial Watch said.
The Government Accountability Office agreed to a Democratic request to price out a few of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago trips, and its forthcoming report promises a more accurate estimate.
(AP)
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7 Responses
were not going to even start listing of all the places obama went.
How about Obama’s vacations? How much did they cost? As I recall, he vacationed every Monday and Thursday. Not including Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh!
here we go again! the media is as intent as ever to criticize and watch every move our President takes. Flying Air Force One is costly (why SO costly, i have yet to fully understand), agreed. but i don’t remember the media calculating the cost in transporting Obama to every golf course or the cost in transporting him and his family to the numerous vacations he took in the last 8 years. come on guys, let our President do his job and leave him alone. this is getting to be a bit ridiculous, wouldn’t you say?
The first problem with this is that these trips are not strictly “vacation”. Government work is carried on during these trips.
The second problem is that during this same period in their respective Administrations, there was a vast difference in travel. As far as I can find, to date, Trump has not traveled outside the country as President. In his first few months, Obama traveled to Canada (February) and Europe and middle east (some 3 full weeks or so in April). That had to be really expensive, and while it may have been work-related, so is Trump’s time during the same period.
Oh and let’s not forget Obama’s “Apology tour”. Did anyone calculate how much it cost in money and American prestige?
Lets not spend the next 4 years comparing everything to what Obama did. Trump is entitled to get out of D.C. for an occasional vacation or weekend away. However, when it becomes a weekly practice, it should be on his own tab. He has his own private golf course right on the Potomac River a short 30 minute drive or 7 minute helicopter flight away. He doesn’t need to use a 747 to play golf.