Sunday, March 16, 2025
Mar 16, 2025: Trump’s Palm Beach golf day and evening, capped by Air Force One return to DC. Estimated taxpayer cost: $876K for flights, security, law enforcement, and motorcade operations.
ACTIVITY BREAKDOWN
Peak Secret Service & Security Operations (Mar-a-Lago/Palm Beach)
Full-scale Secret Service and support staff presence during the President’s Palm Beach area activities, consistent with published $200,000–$300,000/day federal reimbursement benchmarks for heightened security post-assassination attempt.
Local Law Enforcement Assist (Palm Beach)
Coordinated local police and sheriff’s office support for presidential motorcade and event security during Trump’s Mar-a-Lago and golf club movements. Expense eligible for federal reimbursement as per HMSA/FEMA cost programs.
VC-25A (Air Force One) flight, Palm Beach→Andrews (2.15h)
One-way VC-25A flight from Palm Beach International Airport to Joint Base Andrews (estimated 2.15 hours). Cost based on FY25 per-hour rate, consistent with GAO and NTU cost reporting. Support factor = 0 (domestic, no cargo).
Local Motorcade (multiple short trips)
Presidential motorcades to/from Mar-a-Lago, the Trump golf club, and airport. Estimated costs for four discrete, high-security short-trip escorts as per GAO motorcade benchmarks.
Incidentals (logistics, overtime, minor ops)
Aggregate of incidentals, capped at 15% of travel + security per federal cost accounting guidance. Includes logistics, staff overtime, and operational surcharges not itemized elsewhere.