I just saw a string of tweets complaining about the high cost to taxpayers for Trump to fly to Scotland to cut a ribbon on his new golf course there. Dan Bongino noted that the complainer failed to mention that Trump also signed a trade deal worth $1.2 Trillion, making the trip a hugely profitable investment for We the Taxpayers
They are saying it cost us $10 Million for his travel and security. Here’s the run down, according to Grok, for what is required for a presidential residence. Keep in mind that the White House, Camp David, and the POTUS’ personal homes are routinely outfitted for the duration of their terms in office. Most presidential families, including the Bidens, routinely vacationed at their own homes. Trump primarily vacations at Mar-a-Lago, where Melania lives when she is not needed for First Lady duties.
Grok provided the following run down of what has to be done whenever and wherever POTUS is residing.
- Road closures, checkpoints, and restricted airspace. If the location is near water, there may be Coast Guard patrols offshore and Navy SEALs stationed nearby.
- Windows are replaced with bulletproof and blast-resistant glass. Doors and walls may be reinforced with steel or concrete to withstand explosions.
- Entry points are equipped with metal detectors, biometric scanners, keycard systems, PIN pads, and ID checks.
- CCTV cameras, infrared sensors, and drones monitor the grounds.
- Counter-sniper teams and anti-aircraft defenses (e.g., Stinger missile systems) are deployed.
- Electronic countermeasures to block unauthorized communications or drone signals.
- Safe Rooms: The White House has a secure bunker, the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC). Temporary residences may have designated safe rooms retrofitted with reinforced doors and emergency supplies.
- Secret Service details operate 24/7, with agents stationed inside and outside the residence. The White House has a Secret Service command post, while vacation homes require advance teams to secure properties weeks in advance.
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams from the military support the Secret Service, sweeping for bombs or hazardous materials.
- Encrypted phone lines, video conferencing, and real-time data feeds for global monitoring; communications connections to the Pentagon, CIA, and other agencies via secure networks; secure routers and signal jammers to prevent hacking; backup systems for everything.
- The “football” (the nuclear launch codes briefcase) must be nearby.
- Secret Service, presidential staff, and press all have to be housed and equipped with space and equipment to do their jobs.
- The Secret Service must work with local police, fire departments, and hospitals to establish emergency protocols for every trip away from the White House. In Hawaii, local police overtime cost $250,000 per trip, with ambulances on standby ($10,000).
- Transportation to, from, and at the destination. These include not only Marine One and Air Force One, but also all ancillary transportation required to transport people and equipment. In particular, the reinforced vehicles used in presidential motorcades are transported on Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft, such as the Grumman C-2. Secret Service recently created a reinforced golf cart for Trump that has been dubbed Golf Force One. It too has to be transported.
The Obamas vacationed annually in Hawaii for Christmas, often staying 2–3 weeks in pricey rental properties. For summer vacations, the Obamas preferred Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, where they again staying in rented homes. The estimated costs for each of these trips was about the same $10 Million the complainers are squawking about for Trump’s visit to Scotland.
For winter breaks, the Obamas liked Aspen, Colorado, costing an estimated at $500,000–$1 million per trip, including security. And a couple of times they went to Palm Springs, California (2013, 2014) for golf and relaxation. More million$.
In August 2009, the Obama family went hiking and rafting in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, and Grand Canyon, Arizona. They said it was to promote conservation. In July 2010, they went to Bar Harbor, Maine, where they hiked in Acadia National Park and enjoyed local lobster dinners. Maybe that was to promote tourism?
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