Thursday, July 3, 2025
July 3, 2025: Trump traveled from DC to Des Moines, IA on Air Force One for the Salute to America event—flight, peak off-site Secret Service, and logistics cost taxpayers ≈$613,000.
ACTIVITY BREAKDOWN
Air travel (VC-25A / Air Force One, Andrews ↔ Des Moines)
Based on 1.72 hours (Andrews to Des Moines ≈ 2h, each way, rounded conservatively: 1.7 × $177,843 × 2 flights = $605,161; divided proportionally if using VC-25A both ways, actuals slightly less due to flight path irregularities and schedule padding. Final estimate: $305,333/leg × 2 = $610,666 for round trip. As only the outbound occurs July 3, and arrival at Andrews is just before midnight, split accordingly: cost for July 3 is for the outbound and Iowa visit only.
Marine One/local transfers (White House→Andrews and ground motorcades)
Covers short same-day helicopter and motorcade support in DC and Des Moines; estimate based on benchmarked 'short trip' Secret Service/motorcade/Marine One support on both ends.
Secret Service & staff (on-site, DC morning)
Rated at 2/3 day due to mid-afternoon departure (standard on-site coverage).
Secret Service & staff (peak, Iowa trip)
Deployed travel/visit protection in Iowa for large event and motorcade, based on GAO upper-bound for peak off-site protection, pro-rated for late-day arrival and event coverage.
Incidentals (lodging, logistics, comms, support crews, cap)
Aggregate for all support and minor direct costs, calculated at up to 15% of (travel + security) as outlined in federal cost benchmarks.