$29,000 and Counting: Cost of Trump Jr's Security Cover During His India Trip
A Freedom of Information Act request filed by an American citizen has revealed that just the security cover provided to U.S. President Donald Trump’s first son during his visit to India, cost the American tax payer over $29,000.
Much of the cost of Donald Trump Jr.'s February trip to India remains unknown. However, a Freedom of Information Act request filed by an American citizen has revealed that just the security cover provided to U.S. President Donald Trump’s first son cost the American tax payer over $29,000.
A review of General Services Administration purchase orders as reported by the Washington Post, shows that the U.S. Government paid $15,166 in room reservations for "Don Jr. Visit to Mumbai" and $13,468 for hotels during his visit to Pune, for a total of $28,635. A third purchase order for the city of Kolkata for the same time frame lists an additional $9,880 for a "VIP visit."
Donald Trump Jr. made a visit to India in February this year to promote his real estate projects in the country. He met buyers of four Trump luxury residential projects in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Gurgaon in the National Capital Region.
The U.S. Secret Service is authorized to protect the president, vice president and their immediate family members. Asked about the cost of Trump Jr.'s trip, Catherine Milhoan, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, said: "As a matter of practice, the U.S. Secret Service does not comment on the specifics of protectees' trips." A State Department spokesperson said the department does not discuss the details of security matters.
However, some are questioning the U.S. administration’s decision to provide security cover to Trump’s children while they go about conducting personal business all over the globe.
The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said in a July report that documents obtained by it under the Freedom of Information Act showed that the Secret Service spent more than $200,000 on airfare, hotel rooms and other expenses when Don Jr. and Eric Trump went to the United Arab Emirates to open a luxury golf club last year.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2018 06:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).