Eric Trump’s upcoming trip to Ireland with a Secret Service detail will cost American taxpayers more than $21,000 for hotel lodging alone, according to federal procurement records reviewed by The Independent. The funds, allocated from the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, cover two nights’ accommodation on 20th–21st January 2026.
The $21,449.01 contract was awarded by the US Embassy in Dublin, though the specific hotel is undisclosed. Previous trips have seen the Secret Service charged tens of thousands of dollars for stays at Trump-owned properties, including nearly $28,000 for Eric’s 2017 visit and over $10,000 for President Trump’s 2019 Doonbeg trip. Despite Eric’s past claims that the family business offers free or discounted lodging, a watchdog investigation found that Trump properties often billed above typical rates.
Eric, who with brother Don Jr runs the Trump Organization after their father’s 2024 re-election, is seeking planning permission from Clare County Council for a new 13,000-square-foot ballroom at the family’s golf resort in County Clare. The planned structure, which Eric described as “spectacular” and “the nicest ballroom in the country,” would accommodate 320 guests and replace the existing 260-capacity ballroom. Plans include a bridal suite, champagne stations, and expanded parking.
The Trump Organization has submitted an environmental statement arguing that the ballroom will not negatively impact protected Vertigo Angustior snails living on the resort, though it notes the snails are in “terminal decline” at Doonbeg. The project also includes demolishing part of the existing hotel campus, mirroring President Trump’s controversial White House ballroom construction.
Secret Service spokeswoman Alexandra Worley confirmed that “per federal law, the immediate families of current US Presidents are entitled to protection,” adding that all expenditures comply with federal regulations. The total cost of the trip, including salaries, air travel, meals and transport, will be significantly higher than the disclosed lodging figure.
