Official payment logs reveal that the US government paid approximately £53,000 to Donald Trump's Turnberry hotel to cover the costs of his two-day visit last weekend. The payments, authorised by the State Department, were made directly to SLC Turnberry Ltd, the operating company owned by the US president.
The documents show two payments of $30,074 (£22,987) and $37,744 (£28,857) for accommodation costs. Trump was joined at the Ayrshire resort by his wife Melania, son Eric, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders, and chief of staff John Kelly for what was billed as a private visit.
In total, seven payment authorisations tied to Trump's stay cost US taxpayers nearly $237,500. This includes $122,589 for rooms for the White House press corps at other hotels and over $47,000 for secure telecommunications at Turnberry.
The payments have fuelled controversy over Trump's use of his own properties for official visits. Critics argue that his businesses profit from such spending, despite advisers claiming room rates were charged at cost price. Brendan Fischer of the Campaign Legal Centre stated, 'President Trump not only used the occasion of a state visit to promote his Trump-branded golf course, but told US taxpayers to foot the bill.'
Trump's Turnberry resort has been heavily loss-making since its 2014 purchase, with an operating deficit of £17.6 million last year and debts of £122 million owed to Trump. The payment logs do not include other costs such as Air Force One landing fees or Security Service accommodation.
