President Donald Trump’s frequent weekend trips to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida are placing a substantial financial burden on taxpayers, with costs running into tens of millions of dollars, according to The Guardian.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has requested $45 million to cover security expenses through November, while federal agencies spend an average of $13.6 million per trip.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told county commissioners, “They request it, and then we provide it. It’s expensive, but we don’t really have a choice.” The sheriff’s office faces significant demands from the Secret Service to protect the president and his entourage.

Each visit to Mar-a-Lago costs taxpayers about a million dollars in travel expenses alone, including the use of Air Force One, which has an hourly operational cost of nearly $200,000. Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, expressed concern about the frequency of these trips and their impact on Trump’s focus on official duties.

“We want the presidency to be the main focus of the president,” Bookbinder said. “When you go to your own business property, it moves the focus, at least potentially, from your official duties to promoting and attending to your business.”

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Concerns Over Potential Conflicts of Interest

Critics also point out that some of the money spent on these trips goes directly into Trump’s pocket, as federal agencies pay for accommodations at his properties. Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, highlighted concerns about potential overcharging of the Secret Service at Trump-owned properties.

While Palm Beach County expects to be reimbursed with federal funds, local residents are currently bearing the costs.