Stingy Billionaire Trump?..."Charged Even His Own Bodyguards High Accommodation Fees"

US Civic Group Confirms Secret Service Paid High Accommodation Fees to Trump Club
Amount Confirmed Since Inauguration Only 747 Million Won
Most Former Presidents Provided Secret Service Free Use of Private Properties

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] It has been confirmed that the United States Secret Service, responsible for the security of the U.S. President, paid $628,000 (747 million KRW) to a company owned by President Donald Trump under the name of accommodation fees. This reveals that contrary to the Trump family’s explanation that the Secret Service uses lodging facilities virtually for free in relation to Trump’s security, different things are actually happening.

On the 5th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) uncovered this fact through analysis of Secret Service receipts obtained by the civic group 'Public Citizen.' Previously, WP pointed out the issue of the Secret Service paying higher rates than usual for lodging facilities owned by President Trump. WP has been focusing on the special situation where President Trump maintains a 'business relationship' with the U.S. administration.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to the newly confirmed information, the Secret Service has been paying an average of $396.15 per room per day at Mar-a-Lago Club, President Trump’s Florida estate.

The Trump Club at the Bedminster Resort in New Jersey also charged $17,000 per month for renting a single cabin. WP explained that this cost is exorbitantly higher than the surrounding market rates.

Earlier, Eric Trump, President Trump’s son and vice chairman of the Trump Organization, revealed in an interview that very low rates had been applied to the presidential entourage.

President Trump and his family always receive Secret Service protection. Accommodation costs such as hotel fees incurred during this process are not subject to federal government cost limits. In the past, most U.S. presidents did not charge separate fees when special agents used presidential-owned properties for security purposes. However, in President Trump’s case, these costs are being charged.

The only exception is former Vice President Joe Biden, who ran in the Democratic presidential primary. However, in Biden’s case, a monthly rate of $2,200 was applied for cabins rented for security purposes, and this was handled transparently through official contracts. In contrast, the Secret Service protecting President Trump processes payments via credit card rather than formal contracts. Because of this, WP and Public Citizen are verifying transaction details through receipts.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Additionally, WP reported that there was no record of the Trump Organization providing rooms to the Secret Service for less than $50 per day.

Meanwhile, the White House reportedly declined to comment on these reports. President Trump has stated that while he retains ownership of his company, he delegates day-to-day management activities to his eldest son.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.