Taxpayers at Trump Properties

2017-02-03

Taxpayers at Trump Properties

contradicted

Promised: 2017-02-24Trump told CPAC that presidential work left little time for golf.Open cited record · 1 source
The record: 2017-02-03Trump began a set of four early presidential trips to Mar-a-Lago reviewed by GAO.Open cited record · 1 source2019-02-05GAO estimated $13.6 million in federal operating costs for four trips; that total is not the amount paid to Mar-a-Lago.Open cited record · 2 sources
Who gained: 2022-10-17A House oversight report said Secret Service records showed more than $1.4 million in lodging spending at Trump-owned properties from January 20, 2017, through September 15, 2021.Open cited record
Trump-owned property businesses
Trump-owned property businesses
Who paid: United States taxpayers
United States taxpayers
United States Secret Service
Audit finding: contradicted
The total trip cost is a public operating cost, not Trump revenue. The narrower property-payment record documents at least $1.4 million paid by the Secret Service to Trump-owned properties during the stated period.
Causal strength: documented mechanism

Evidence chronology

promise2017-02-24documented
Trump told CPAC that presidential work left little time for golf.
- The American Presidency Project: Remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference2017-02-24 · Remarks concerning time for golf
Open underlying ledger entry
action2017-02-03documented
Trump began a set of four early presidential trips to Mar-a-Lago reviewed by GAO.
- U.S. Government Accountability Office: Presidential Travel: Secret Service and DOD Need to Ensure That Expenditure Reports Are Prepared and Submitted to Congress2019-02-05 · Highlights and costs for four trips, February 3-March 5, 2017
Open underlying ledger entry
outcome2019-02-05documented
GAO estimated $13.6 million in federal operating costs for four trips; that total is not the amount paid to Mar-a-Lago.
- U.S. Government Accountability Office: Presidential Travel: Secret Service and DOD Need to Ensure That Expenditure Reports Are Prepared and Submitted to Congress2019-02-05 · GAO-19-178 highlights, total operating costs
- U.S. Government Accountability Office: Presidential Travel: Secret Service and DOD Need to Ensure That Expenditure Reports Are Prepared and Submitted to Congress2019-02-05 · Highlights and costs for four trips, February 3-March 5, 2017
Open underlying ledger entry
beneficiary2022-10-17documented
A House oversight report said Secret Service records showed more than $1.4 million in lodging spending at Trump-owned properties from January 20, 2017, through September 15, 2021.
- U.S. House of Representatives: Committee on Oversight and Reform Activities Report, 117th Congress2022-12-30 · Secret Service expenditures at Trump-owned properties and cited underlying spreadsheet
Open underlying ledger entry
administration response2022-10-17reported
The Trump Organization said Secret Service rooms were provided free or at cost; records cited by reporters included rates above government per diem.
- Axios: Trump Organization charged Secret Service above government rates2022-10-17 · Eric Trump statement and House-record findings
Open underlying ledger entry

Money calculations

public costFour Mar A Lago Trip Cost$13.6 million total federal trip cost
estimated · 2019-02-05 · observedPopulation United States taxpayers; United States taxpayers; United States Secret Service; Trump-owned property businesses; Trump-owned property businessesPeriod 2017-02-03 to 2017-03-05Basis GAO combined DOD and Secret Service operating costs for four trips.Limits GAO's estimate combines Defense and Secret Service operating costs; it is not property revenue and excludes some costs outside GAO's scope.Open cited evidence
paymentSecret Service Trump Property Lodgingmore than $1.4 million in Secret Service lodging payments
realized · 2022-10-17 · observedPopulation United States taxpayers; United States taxpayers; United States Secret Service; Trump-owned property businesses; Trump-owned property businessesPeriod 2017-01-20 to 2021-09-15Basis Use the House committee's total from Secret Service expenditure records and retain it separately from GAO's four-trip operating-cost estimate.Limits The committee described the record production as incomplete; gross lodging payments are not business profit.Open cited evidence

Responses, contrary evidence, and limitations

administration response
The Trump Organization said Secret Service rooms were provided free or at cost; records cited by reporters included rates above government per diem.