US sheriff speaks out on Donald Trump's golf trips as staggering cost of police overtime paid by taxpayer revealed
The stunning amount that the American taxpayer contributes to fund President Donald Trump's golf trips has been revealed.
Throughout both his first term and his current terms as President of the United States of America, Trump hasn't allowed his busy life to get in the way of his love of golf.
Since his second inauguration on January 20, the 78-year-old has already visited the golf courses that he owns in Florida six times.
Following his latest visit Mar-a-Lago just a few days ago, the total cost for the security during Trumps's weekends of golf have been revealed.
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In an interview with The Guardian, Palm Beach county sheriff, Ric Bradshaw, opened up about the staggering requirements for Trump to be able to play a round of golf without any risk of the President being attacked.
“They request it, and then we provide it. It’s expensive, but we don’t really have a choice,” Bradshaw said.
Although the sheriff's office refused to reveal an exact breakdown of the costs, the overtime bill for one day alone has previously been reported to be a breathtaking $240,000 (£186,156).
While addressing county commissioners last month, Bradshaw is believed to have said that the demands from the US Secret Service to help protect Trump and his guests are 'substantial,' particularly on short-notice.
Bradshaw was forced to submit an urgent request of $45m to aid security for Trump’s visits through November, a total that he admitted would only go up in the future.
“We’ve already heard some information where he may be spending more time here than in Washington,” Bradshaw added.
“Definitely you’re going to see him bringing in leaders from the world. That is a significant shift in the cost for security.”
Anytime Trump decided to make the trip over to Palm Beach from Washington, his personal airliner Air Force One must be fuelled up and staffed, leading to a reported hourly operational cost close to $200,000 (£155,176), according to a 2022 air force assessment.
With a flight from Washington DC to Palm Beach international airport taking roughly two hours, it is likely that a visit to the golf course for Trump costs costs taxpayers around a million dollars each way before any security costs are factored in.
Ben McCrum