Donald Trump, January 21, 2020 at the World Economic Forum in Davos. - Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

Members of the secret services and the security forces who protect Donald Trump, when he goes to his personal properties, are housed in hotels belonging to ... the president. During the latter's stays in his residences in Florida or New Jersey, the billionaire's establishments have thus billed American taxpayers up to 600 euros per room, reveals the Washington Post.

Previously questioned about this situation, Donald Trump's companies had assured that they would only ask for the minimum price to accommodate the officials and store equipment. The American daily claims however the opposite, based on federal archives and testimonies. For example, a rate of just under 600 euros was applied dozens of times in 2017 for secret service agents at Club Mar-a-Lago (Florida), against the amount of almost 360 euros billed the year next.

Around 430,000 euros at Trump establishments

A monthly rent of around 15,000 euros has also been paid by the government to house security agents in a four-room house at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The tariff is abnormally high for the region and it has even been invoiced during periods when the Head of State was not present.

Between January 2017 and April 2018, the American administration paid more than 430,000 euros to Donald Trump's establishments with public money, according to calculations made by the American media using invoices. The actual amount would actually be much higher since only a small part of the expenditure is recorded.

"It's still crazy to know that the president benefits from his presidency without knowing how," denounces Jordan Libowitz, member of an association against corruption. "We do not know how much public money it has put in the pocket," he added. Since his election, Donald Trump has spent 342 days, or one-third of his term, in private residences or hotels. The President of the United States has always claimed that he worked during these stays, adds the Washington Post .

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