Fact Check: St. Cloud Bills Trump Campaign Nearly $209,000 for Rally Services
What We Know
The city of St. Cloud, Minnesota, has stated that former President Donald Trump's campaign owes nearly $209,000 for services rendered during a rally held on July 27, 2024. This amount includes costs for additional police presence, adjustments to a construction project, and IT services, which were necessary due to the event's scale. Specifically, the expenses break down to approximately $63,000 for police work, $62,000 for construction changes, and nearly $2,000 for IT services (AP News, CBS News).
St. Cloud City Administrator Matt Staehling confirmed that the city typically bills campaigns for services that exceed normal provisions, such as those needed for large events like political rallies. However, the White House is not charged for official events (MPR News). Additionally, the Trump campaign had previously settled a $35,000 bill for the venue rental at St. Cloud State University (St. Cloud LIVE).
Analysis
The claim that St. Cloud bills the Trump campaign for nearly $209,000 is supported by multiple credible sources. The Associated Press, CBS News, and MPR News all report consistent figures and details regarding the expenses incurred by the city due to the rally (AP News, CBS News, MPR News).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a history of accurate reporting. The information provided aligns with official statements from city officials, which adds to its credibility. Furthermore, the Trump campaign's response indicates a dispute over responsibility for the payment, suggesting that the campaign may not acknowledge the bill's legitimacy, but does not deny the amount owed (St. Cloud LIVE).
Critically, the Trump campaign has claimed that the U.S. Secret Service should cover these costs, but a spokesperson for the Secret Service clarified that there is no existing mechanism for reimbursing local governments for expenses related to protective events (St. Cloud LIVE). This further supports the assertion that the campaign is indeed responsible for the bill.
Conclusion
The claim that St. Cloud bills Trump’s campaign nearly $209,000 for rally services is True. The evidence from multiple reputable sources confirms that the city has invoiced the campaign for specific expenses incurred during the rally, and the campaign has not settled this bill as of the latest reports.
Sources
- Minnesota city says Trump campaign still owes more than $200,000 for ...
- St. Cloud changes policy for charging event fees | MPR News
- St. Cloud says Trump campaign still owes $200,000+ for July rally
- Trump campaign says Secret Service can pay $209,000 bill from city of ...
- St. Cloud formalizes service fees for events such as Trump ...
