Day 32: Donald Trump Profits Off First Family Travel
As we profiled yesterday, Donald Trump is likely profiting $50,000 or more every time he travels to Mar-a-Lago, the private South Florida club that he owns.
That is just the tip of the iceberg, however. Donald’s sons, Donald, Jr. and Eric, are currently in Dubai, opening up a new property for the Trump Organization — the same Trump Organization that the senior Donald is the sole or principle owner of.
The sons are being protected by Secret Service agents every step of the way. Traditionally, the first family is afforded Secret Service detail. In a vacuum, that isn’t out of the ordinary, though the scope of detail was never considered for a family with the magnitude and holdings of Trump’s.
Let’s follow the money.
As we broke down yesterday, when Trump travels, Secret Service lodging costs total at least $50,000 per day. We know that when Eric Trump traveled to Uruguay last month, Secret Service lodging exceeded $40,000 per day. He stayed at the Trump Tower in Punta del Este. In the same manner Eric’s father profits when Secret Service stays at Mar-a-Lago, Eric’s father profits when his family (and therefore Secret Service) stay at Trump-branded properties worldwide.
Similarly, the Trump Boys are currently in Dubai opening up a Trump-branded golf course. While they can’t stay at a Trump-branded property in Dubai since Trump currently has no properties in Dubai (though he did note a billion dollar opportunity to build there has recently been proposed), the Trump Boys are essentially touring the world, drumming up business with American taxpayers footing the bill for private security. A Secret Service detail provides an air of added importance and gives the impression of a connection directly with the president.
Next month, the Trump Boys will attend the grand opening of the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Vancouver. Eric admitted that the Trump Organization, while not owning the property, sees a share of revenues derived from the property.
Where do you think the Trump Boys and Secret Service will be staying at the grand opening of the Vancouver property? (Hint: They won’t be staying at the Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton or the W.)
When they stay at their namesake property, revenue derived from (among other things) Secret Service detail staying at the property will be flowing directly back into the Trump Organization’s pocket. Since Secret Service is funded by taxpayers’ dollars, the Trump Organization is being enriched by those very same dollars.
The same is true when the Trump Organization opens buildings bearing their name in Manila, Mumbai, Cap Cana, Bali, or Lido Lakes. Or if anyone from the first family stays in a Trump-branded property anywhere in the world for any reason at all.
Donald Trump keeps profiting at taxpayers’ expense.
32 days in, 1430 to go
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