Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump caused controversy by charging the Secret Service to stay on his various properties. Now we are learning this practice has continued now that he is out of office.
According to the Washington Post, “The records show that Trump’s club charged the Secret Service $396.15 every night starting Jan. 20, the day he left the White House and moved full-time into his Palm Beach, Fla., club.”
Those charges, ultimately paid by taxpayers, continued until at least April 30, the spending records show, for a total of $40,011.15. The charges were for a single room used as a workspace by Secret Service agents, according to one person familiar with the payments.
Reporters David Fahrenthold and Josh Dawsey point out “Trump’s decision to charge the Secret Service rent appears unusual — both for a sitting president and now for a former one.”
Former presidents get Secret Service protection for life. But last year The Washington Post spoke to historians and representatives for recent presidents and could not find another example of a president charging the Secret Service rent on this scale.
This isn’t the only Secret Service story raising eyebrows, earlier in the week The Daily Beast reported that Jared Kushner was still racking up his own Secret Service bills, “the State Department laid out at least $12,950 for Jared Kushner’s Secret Service detail to accompany him during a stay at the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi this month.” The publication adds:
It is virtually unheard of for former administration officials to keep their Secret Service protection once they leave office. However, prior to vacating the White House, Trump granted an additional six months of security for at least three Cabinet appointees and 13 members of his family, including Kushner.