The staggering cost of Donald Trump’s vacations to US taxpayers has been exposed following his angry diatribe against non-working holidays.
It’s no secret that the president likes extravagant golf trips, frequently visiting Mar-a-Lago on weekends and spending substantial time away during his second term.
In March, it was reported that President Trump had visited his beachfront estate in Florida for the sixth time since returning to the White House in January, and the trip was not cheap.
His breaks have been criticized as a drain on resources, ranging from his private jet trips via Air Force One to the additional cargo aircraft and motorcades, as well as the increased load on the Secret Service and local Palm Beach authorities for his protection.
Under that umbrella, local law enforcement has been paying overtime and related expenditures for helicopter deployment and increased manpower on the ground, all to safeguard the president, his family, and his entourage as they engage in his favorite hobby.
It’s been found that Trump’s out-of-office trips cost the American public a lot of money, with the statistics decreasing right after he complained about employees having ‘too many non-working vacations.’
Marca estimates that his leisure travels cost the taxpayer $26 million in late March alone and roughly $30 million in early April.
Meanwhile, fueling, staffing, and taking off in Air Force One is said to cost near $200,000, according to a 2022 Air Force assessment, with reports that the two-hour flight time from Washington, DC, to Palm Beach International Airport costs the taxpayer approximately a million dollars each time—just in travel.
The exorbitant expenditures came as the president seemed disingenuous in claiming that firms closing for vacations are depleting the public purse.
He stated, “There are too many non-working holidays in America.” It costs our country billions of dollars to keep all of these firms closed.
“The workers do not want these holidays either!” Soon, we’ll have a holiday for every single working day of the year. It must alter if we are to “Make America Great Again!”
Nonetheless, many accuse the president of being a big drain on the US economy.
“If we’re going to talk about efficiency… let’s talk about the fact that, as of March 30, Trump’s golfing has cost us approximately $26 million,” Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett stated during a House subcommittee hearing in April. “The last time I checked, we’re not getting anything in return for that.”
She further stated that a deluxe golfing weekend could cost up to $3.4 million, while one specific trip may cost $4.2 million due to the additional helicopter transfer from Miami International.
During Trump’s first term, the Government Accountability Office calculated that his Mar-a-Lago vacations cost an average of $13.6 million every weekend, not including the $240,000 in overtime pay for Palm Beach County cops.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told county commissioners in February that the work is “substantial,” adding, “They request it, and then we provide it.” Although it is expensive, we have limited options.
Bradshaw believes the bill for Trump’s enhanced protection will continue to grow after an ‘urgent request’ of $45 million was authorized in November.
“We’ve already received information that he may be spending more time here than in Washington,” the sheriff stated at the time.
“You will definitely see him bring in international leaders. That represents a huge change in the cost of security.”