Monthly Rent for Restrooms $3,000... Taxpayer Money Spent
Portable Toilets Installed Outside Homes... Residents Express Complaints

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Senior Advisors to the White House

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Allegations have been raised that Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner prevented security guards from using the restroom inside their home for the past four years. According to U.S. media reports, the security guards experienced significant inconvenience, having to drive to use the restrooms at the former president’s and vice president’s residences or rent a restroom from a neighboring house. Critics argue that more than $3,000 (approximately 3.3 million KRW) of taxpayers’ money was wasted monthly just on restroom rental fees.

On the 15th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) reported that during President Trump’s four-year term, Ivanka and Jared prohibited federal security personnel assigned to protect them from using restrooms inside their home. Typically, security guards use restrooms inside the protected individual’s residence to maintain close proximity, but despite the couple’s home having six restrooms, they forbade the guards from using them.

The security guards assigned to Ivanka and Jared, who were banned from using the restrooms, reportedly endured great inconvenience, driving as far as 1.6 km to use restrooms at former President Barack Obama’s and Vice President Mike Pence’s residences. They also installed portable restrooms outside the house, but these had to be removed soon after due to complaints from neighbors.

Eventually, the U.S. Secret Service intervened and began a strenuous search for rental restrooms. After eight months of investigation, in September 2017, the Secret Service rented a restroom from a neighbor near Ivanka and Jared’s home, paying $3,000 per month in rent. WP reported that by September of this year, $144,000 of taxpayers’ money had been wasted solely on restroom rental fees.

The couple’s side completely denied the report. White House spokesperson Judd Deere stated, "Ivanka and Jared never restricted the security guards’ restroom use and are actually very grateful for the protection provided by the Secret Service."

However, WP cited anonymous sources to counter, saying, "The eccentric behavior of Ivanka and Jared did indeed occur." The Secret Service declined to comment on the allegations, stating, "We cannot disclose the means, methods, or resources used in carrying out protective missions."