(Image source from: Devdiscourse.com)
A business trip by Donald J Trump Jr, the son the United States President Donald Trump, this year to India cost the American taxpayers about USD 100,000 in fees related to the Secret Service agents protecting him and some other costs, according to a media report.
Donald J Trump Jr, 40, visited four India cities - New Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata - in February 2016, in order to promote the high-rise luxurious condos being built by the Trump Organization, of which the U.S. president Trump is an exclusive owner. Trump Jr is the vice president of his family-owned firm.
The Washington Post reported on Thursday that it reckoned this figure from the documents it acquired from the Department of Homeland through the Freedom of Information Act, which is akin to India's Right to Information Act.
The documents showed that Trump Jr's February trip cost more than USD 97,805 for hotel rooms, airfare, car rental and overtime for Secret Service agents, the daily reported.
Though Donald J Trump Jr and the White House did not immediately respond to the news report, which their political opponents on the social media supposed the Secret Service expenses for his trip to promote condos in India was misapply of taxpayers money.
As per the U.S. laws, the President and his immediate family members are entitled to protection by the Secret Service. Same is the case with the erstwhile presidents and their family members as well.
"Donald Trump Jr went to India to promote condo sales. His trip cost taxpayers almost USD 100,000. That's essentially the government spending money on the president's private business," Citizens for Ethics, a watchdog, alleged in a tweet.
"Because the president has not placed his assets in a blind trust, as other presidents have done, he still effectively controls his real estate empire and benefits from his children's travels," Jordan Libowitz, communications director for the Washington-based watchdog group told the Washington Post.
"The issue is that essentially the president still owns his businesses, and these trips are being done to make the president money. Essentially the government is spending money for the president's private businesses," Libowitz told the daily.
By Sowmya
