Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Watchdog: 4 Mar-a-Lago Trips in 2017 Costs Taxpayers $14M
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
February 6, 2019

Share

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s four trips to his Mar-a-Lago resort in early 2017 cost taxpayers nearly $14 million, a watchdog report Tuesday said.

“President Trump’s failure to divest from his properties has created a situation in which he benefits from government spending whenever he makes a promotional appearance at one of those properties.” — Noah Bookbinder, executive director of the watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
The Government Accountability Office said travel and accommodations, Secret Service expenses, deployment of bomb-sniffing dogs and other costs for the trips between February 3 and March 5 in 2017 tallied to $13.6 million. About $60,000 of the tab went directly to Mar-a-Lago.
The GAO report provides one of the clearest pictures yet of the costs of the president’s travel, and how much of that money goes back to his own properties.
The nonpartisan research group for Congress also found that Secret Service costs for three trips abroad by Trump’s two adult sons and their spouses in early 2017 ran to $396,000.
Noah Bookbinder, executive director of the watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said the trips to Mar-a-Lago themselves are the real problem, not just the direct spending there.
“President Trump’s failure to divest from his properties has created a situation in which he benefits from government spending whenever he makes a promotional appearance at one of those properties,” Bookbinder said in an emailed comment. “This is not a presidential vacation, but an official trip that provides invaluable free publicity to his business.”

Trump Spent a Total of 49 Days at Mar-a-Lago

The White House did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
During one of Trump’s trips to Mar-a-Lago in early 2017, the president played host to visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Trump spent a total of 49 days at Mar-a-Lago in 2017 and 29 days in 2018, according CREW.
The GAO report was requested by Democratic members of Congress, including California Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings.
The tally does not include expenses that are classified or salaries and benefits of U.S. government employees traveling with the president. The GAO said the latter would have been incurred if the president had not traveled.
The GAO also didn’t include costs incurred by officials of the Executive Office of the President because the White House did not respond to a request for the data.
Trump spent a total of 49 days at Mar-a-Lago in 2017 and 29 days in 2018, according CREW.
In January 2017, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump and their wives traveled to the United Arab Emirates. Eric Trump separately went to Uruguay that same month, then to the Dominican Republic the next month.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

UP NEXT

US House Passes Trump Cuts of $9.4 Billion for Foreign Aid, Broadcasting

Fresno Shooting Leaves Man Dead Near Griffith and Hughes

3 hours ago

Iran and Israel Say a New Wave of Iranian Missile Attacks Has Begun. Explosions Heard Over Jerusalem

3 hours ago

Vacant Fresno Restaurant Heavily Damaged in Early Morning Fire

An early morning fire caused significant damage to a vacant restaurant building in Fresno, the Fresno Fire Department reported.   ...

1 hour ago

A vacant Fresno restaurant was heavily damaged in a fire early Friday, June 13, 2025, morning, with no injuries reported and the cause under investigation. (Fresno FD)
1 hour ago

Vacant Fresno Restaurant Heavily Damaged in Early Morning Fire

2 hours ago

Visalia Police Make Arrest in Deadly Hit-and-Run

Michael Sanchez, 30, a Madera County inmate, who failed to return from a funeral day-pass was arrested Friday after a police chase and crash involving children. (Madera County SO)
2 hours ago

Madera County Inmate Arrested After Chase and Crash With Kids in Car

3 hours ago

Fresno Shooting Leaves Man Dead Near Griffith and Hughes

Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Neuberg)
3 hours ago

Iran and Israel Say a New Wave of Iranian Missile Attacks Has Begun. Explosions Heard Over Jerusalem

A man in his 80s was found dead in Bass Lake on Friday, June 13, 2025, morning while attempting to launch a boat, authorities said. (Madera County SO)
3 hours ago

Man Found Dead in Bass Lake, Cause Under Investigation

U.S. Marines detain a person outside the Wilshire Federal Building after Marines were deployed to Los Angeles, as protests against federal immigration sweeps continue, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 13, 2025. (Reuters/Aude Guerrucci)
3 hours ago

US Marines Carry out First Known Detention of Civilian in Los Angeles, Video Shows

3 hours ago

Tensions Boil Between Arias and Dem Congressmembers

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend