Trump Hotels Charged Secret Service Up to 5 Times the Recommended Rate
Summary from the AllSides News Team
During Donald Trump’s presidency, Trump hotels charged the Secret Service as much as $1,185 per night while the agency protected the first family, according to an investigation released Monday by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. In some cases, agents were charged more than five times the government's recommended rate for the hotel stays.
Key Quotes: "Despite claims by the Trump Organization that federal employees traveling with the former President would stay at Trump properties 'for free' or 'at cost,' new information obtained by the Committee shows that the former President’s company charged the Secret Service excessive nightly rates on dozens of trips," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), chair of the Oversight Committee, in a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
For Context: In 2019, Eric Trump told Yahoo Finance that Secret Service agents "stay at our properties for free" while protecting the president. Secret Service records obtained by the committee reportedly show that the agency was charged rates above the government per diem amount at least 40 times between Jan. 20, 2017 and Sept. 15, 2021.
How the Media Covered It: Sources across the political spectrum published similar reports on the news. Left-rated media covered the story more than right-rated media, and tended to frame it as evidence that Trump lied and profited off of taxpayer money.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Trump Organization charged Secret Service as much as $1,185 per night to stay at Trump properties
During Donald Trump’s presidency, Trump hotels charged the Secret Service as much as $1,185 per night, more than five times the recommended government rate, and the high rates continued after he left office, according to an investigation released Monday by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Beginning in January 2017 through Sept. 15, 2021, the Secret Service received at least 40 waivers to let it spend more than the recommended per diem rates to stay at Trump properties to protect Trump as a president and former president, and also...
From the Left
Trump's business charged Secret Service "excessive" hotel rates, docs show 
Former President Trump's business charged Secret Service agents "excessive nightly rates" at its properties during dozens of trips, according to documents released Monday by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Driving the news: Some charges were as high as $1,185 per room per night at the former Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. — more than five times the government rate, according to the committee.
Why it matters: Trump maintained ownership of the Trump Organization throughout his presidency through a revocable trust, with his oldest sons, Eric and Donald Jr., at the helm.
The documents released...
From the Right
Trump hotels charged Secret Service ‘exorbitant’ rates to protect first family
The Trump Organization charged the Secret Service hundreds or thousands of dollars above the government rate for stays at its hotels while protecting the 45th president and his family members on dozens of trips, according to receipts released Monday in a report by the House Oversight Committee.
Committee Chair Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) accused Trump of profiting off taxpayer funds by lodging agents in his eponymous hotels at rates “as high as $1,185 per night,” in a letter to Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle revealing the findings.
“The exorbitant rates charged to...
AllSides Picks
May 28th, 2024
May 26th, 2024
May 24th, 2024
May 29th, 2024
More News about Donald Trump from the Left, Center and Right
From the Left
From the Center
From the Right
