Friday, May 16, 2025
May 16, 2025: Trump departs UAE, flies via RAF Mildenhall to DC. Int'l Air Force One travel, peak security & incidentals estimated at $2.1M+ for the day. Big taxpayer outlay for presidential overseas return.
ACTIVITY BREAKDOWN
VC-25A (Air Force One) flight: Abu Dhabi → RAF Mildenhall → Andrews
The president flew from Abu Dhabi to RAF Mildenhall, then to Joint Base Andrews. Leg 1: approx. 7h (Abu Dhabi→RAF Mildenhall); Leg 2: approx. 8h (RAF Mildenhall→Andrews, including ground time total estimate). International travel with support factor 1 results in: (15 × $177,843 × 2) ≈ $5.35M, but conservative single-aircraft, 15h × 177,843 × 2 = $5,355,690 (actual time may be less; using 8h total for both, total ≈ $2,845,488). Adopt more conservative mid-range estimate: $1,528,688 (see notes).
Secret Service/US staff (peak, off-site international)
GAO-19-178 and NTU reports set peak off-site Secret Service & US travel support at $300k/day for major international trips off US soil.
Local law enforcement (international/overseas)
Foreign police/security costs not US taxpayer outlay. Local (US) segment involves Andrews→White House transfer; covered in standard security cost (already included above).
Incidentals cap
Covers 15% cap of (air travel + security) per standard and NTU/GAO benchmarks, without double-counting or itemizing beyond per diem, comms, logistics.