Politics - News Analysis

Melania Spent A Whopping $200K On Toronto Hotels For A 12-Hour Trip — And Didn’t Even Spend The Night

On September 23, 2017, first lady Melania Trump took a 12-hour day trip to Canada. On the trip, she attended the Invictus games. The games were held a short distance from Toronto. While in Canada, Melania met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the UK’s Prince Harry.

During the day trip, the first lady stopped at 2 different hotels. SHe rented rooms at 2 high-end hotels for a day trip that did not include an overnight. Melania made stops at the Ritz Carlton and Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. While there, Melania racked up a $174,000 hotel bill, payable by the American taxpayers.

In response to criticism over the first lady’s excessive travel bill, her spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said, “What I can tell you is that when the President or First Lady travels, there are people who travel ahead on the advance team to ensure safety measures, medical care, communications, motorcade needs and logistics are all in place.” She continued, “Mrs. Trump travels with a much smaller contingent of staff than that of her predecessors, but the entities I mentioned above are legally required for all official travel.”

There is at least one problem, however, the $174,000 bill was for Melania alone. That amount did not include expenses incurred by her advance team. The bill for the first lady’s advance team was paid separately. That bill was $18,000 in hotel bills as well as separate travel expenses. The bill for the advance team is minimal when compared to the amount spent on the first lady herself during the 1-day jaunt to Canada.

The first lady’s bill seems excessive as it far exceeds even the most expensive room rates in the area for one day. The first lady did not spend the night at either hotel. Her bill from Toronto was separated out into six individual charges. In the spending record, they were labeled “miscellaneous foreign awardees”

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