Fact Check: Did trump force secret service to stay at his hotels for above market rates

Fact Check: Did Trump Force Secret Service to Stay at His Hotels for Above Market Rates?

What We Know

During Donald Trump's presidency, the U.S. Secret Service was charged significantly higher rates for accommodations at Trump-owned properties, particularly the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. According to a report released by the House Oversight Committee, the Secret Service was charged as much as $1,185 per room per night, which is more than five times the government-approved per diem rate of $201 (Oversight Democrats' New Report Proves Trump Used His ... [source-1], Trump hotels charged his Secret Service protectors ... [source-2]). The report indicates that these charges were not isolated incidents; they occurred on numerous occasions, leading to a total expenditure of over $1.4 million by the Secret Service at Trump properties (Trump hotel overcharged Secret Service, report by House ... [source-3]).

The report highlights specific instances where the Secret Service was charged exorbitant rates while Trump family members were staying at the hotel. For example, on November 8, 2017, the Secret Service paid $1,185 for two rooms while the hotel rented out over 200 rooms to private parties at rates as low as $125 (House panel: Trump's bills to Secret Service 'exorbitant' [source-4]). Furthermore, the report notes that the Secret Service received at least 40 waivers to exceed the government rate at Trump properties, raising concerns about potential self-dealing and conflicts of interest (Trump Hotels Charged Secret Service Exorbitant Rates ... [source-5]).

Analysis

The evidence presented in the House Oversight Committee report is substantial and highlights a pattern of behavior that suggests Trump used his position to profit from the Secret Service's necessity to protect him and his family. The rates charged to the Secret Service were consistently higher than those charged to other guests, including foreign dignitaries (Trump overcharged Secret Service by 300% for ... [source-6]). This discrepancy raises ethical questions about Trump's business practices while in office.

The sources used in this analysis are credible, as they include official reports from the House Oversight Committee and reputable news organizations such as NPR, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. However, it is important to note that the report's findings are based on a limited set of records, which may not capture the full extent of the transactions (Trump hotels charged his Secret Service protectors ... [source-2]). Despite this limitation, the documented instances of overcharging are compelling and suggest a clear violation of the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the president from receiving additional payments from federal or state governments beyond their salary (House panel: Trump's bills to Secret Service 'exorbitant' [source-4]).

Conclusion

The claim that Donald Trump forced the Secret Service to stay at his hotels for above-market rates is True. The evidence indicates that the Secret Service was charged exorbitant rates that far exceeded government-approved limits, resulting in significant payments to Trump's businesses. This practice raises serious ethical concerns regarding self-dealing and exploitation of presidential power for personal profit.

Fact Check: Did trump force secret service to stay at his hotels for above market rates