13.8 Billion Won Paid to Trump Businesses After Inauguration
Secret Service Accompanies Private Trips, Charges Room Fees at Trump-Owned Hotels
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] It has been revealed that the children of U.S. President Donald Trump abused the budget of the White House Secret Service.
According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 13th (local time), since President Trump's inauguration until last month, the U.S. government paid a total of $1.2 million (approximately 1.38 billion KRW) to businesses owned by the Trump family, such as hotels and resorts.
Most of these costs occurred as President Trump visited his family-owned businesses about 270 times.
Also, according to Secret Service documents obtained by WP, the government budget used by President Trump's children and family at Trump-owned resorts and hotels has reached at least $238,000 (approximately 270 million KRW) so far.
Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Trump, stayed at the Trump Hotel in Vancouver while hunting in Canada, accompanied by Secret Service agents.
Eric Trump, the second son, took Secret Service agents along to a golf course in Scotland while guiding clients on an Atlantic crossing trip for money.
Ivanka Trump, the eldest daughter and White House senior advisor, repeatedly brought the Secret Service to the Trump Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
During these trips, Secret Service agents stayed there to protect President Trump's children, which became additional income for the Trump business.
This is because the costs of Secret Service agents accompanying Trump’s children when visiting Trump-owned resorts or hotels were billed to the government.
President Trump's company charged the U.S. government hundreds to thousands of dollars for the rooms used by Secret Service agents on each trip. The Secret Service sometimes reserved multiple rooms or suites.
Government ethics experts say that while the Secret Service protection for President Trump's children is not wrong, charging for rooms used by agents accompanying private trips could mean taxpayers' money flows into the Trump family's business.
WP reported that this could appear as if the Trump family is abusing government-funded protection to gain personal financial benefits.
Scott Amey of the government watchdog group Government Accountability Project questioned, "Are they trying to profit from the fact that their father is in the White House?" He added, "They could easily repay this money, and if they do, the federal government and taxpayers would not bear the burden."
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