For years, the Trump name has followed a familiar rule. Wherever a Trump goes, money somehow circles back to the Trump brand. Golf trips, overseas visits, political events, and even family travel. The pattern is old, but the backlash feels newer and louder than ever.
That focus has now shifted to Eric Trump, whose recent trip to Ireland quickly drew scrutiny. Not because of the destination, but because of who picked up the bill along the way.
Eric Trump traveled to Ireland this month under full U.S. Secret Service protection. That protection is paid for by American taxpayers. Federal records show the Secret Service set aside more than $21,000 for hotel lodging connected to Eric Trump’s visit to Doonbeg, Ireland, where the Trump Organization owns a luxury golf resort.
According to procurement documents reviewed by The Independent, the contract was issued through the U.S. Embassy in Dublin and funded by the State Department. The stay was tied to Eric Trump’s visit on January 20 and 21, as he works to secure approval for a large new ballroom at the Trump golf resort in County Clare.
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This is where many people stop nodding and start asking questions.
Eric Trump is not an elected official. He does not hold public office. Yet he continues to receive full federal protection while traveling for work tied to Trump-branded projects. That alone creates discomfort. Add money changing hands, and the discomfort turns into anger.
The Secret Service does not choose hotels casually. Rooms, meals, transport, and security planning all cost real money. When those services are purchased at Trump properties, taxpayers are effectively paying the Trump Organization.
Supporters often say security has to stay somewhere. That argument misses the point. The concern is choice. When alternatives exist, choosing a family-owned property raises ethical red flags.
During Donald Trump’s first term, the Secret Service repeatedly stayed at Trump-owned properties. In 2017, taxpayers paid nearly $28,000 for agents to stay at the Trump resort in Doonbeg during one of Eric Trump’s earlier trips.
In 2019, President Trump’s own visit generated more than $10,000 in lodging charges. That same year, Mike Pence’s Secret Service detail cost taxpayers over $15,000 at Trump properties.
Each visit added revenue.
Eric Trump once said the family charged the Secret Service “at cost” or even for free. But a watchdog group later revealed that Trump hotels often billed agents above normal rates, including during Eric’s trips.
Warnings about mixing public service with private profit were ignored back then. Years later, the same problem keeps showing up.
The context makes it even more striking. Millions of Americans face rising food prices, soaring rent, and ever-increasing healthcare costs. Against that backdrop, watching taxpayer dollars support luxury Trump properties feels deeply out of touch.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
