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Joe Biden’s Travel Expenses Cost More Than $2.2 Million

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


The jet-setting President Joe Biden’s frequent travel is taking its toll on taxpayers to the tune of $2.2 million.

Consider that the average American family paid $2,392 in federal income tax in 2018, USA Facts reported. If still true in 2020 that would mean it took approximately 919 families annual taxes to pay for Biden’s travel this year

More than 900 people working hard for an entire year to pay for Biden to travel and vacation, Judicial Watch reported.

“Judicial Watch today announced it obtained White House travel records from the Secret Service in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for all records concerning the use of U.S. Government funds to provide security and/or any other services to President Biden and any companions. These records detail Secret Service travel costs of $2,252,600.50 for President Joe Biden through August 8 for travel to Delaware and other domestic locations,” it said last week.

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  • Biden’s August 6-8, 2021, trip to Wilmington, Delaware, cost $176,183.00 in hotels; $18,652.00 in car rentals; $24,322.39 in air/rail travel for a total of $219,157.39
  • Biden’s July 23-25, 2021, weekend trip to Wilmington cost $88,575.00 in hotels; $7,378.00 in car rentals; $14,319.69 in air/rail travel for a total of $110,272.69
  • Biden also took a trip to Wilmington earlier in July from July 9-11, 2021. That trip cost $74,289.00 in hotels; $23,727.72 in car rentals; $27,561.53 in air/rail travel for a total of $125,578.25
  • Biden’s July 3, 2021, trip to Michigan to celebrate progress against COVID-19 cost $151,395.70 in hotels; $18,992.00 in car rentals; $9,388.26 In air/rail travel for a total of $179,775.96
  • Biden’s June 18-20, 2021 trip to Wilmington cost $158,818.70 in hotels; $24,475.00 in car rentals; $19,896.21 in air/rail travel for a total of $203,189.91
  • Biden’s Delaware trips from January 20, 2021, to June 4, 2021, cost $1,125,646.50 in hotels; $10,893.40 in car rentals; $159,966.28 in air/rail travel for a total of $1,296,506.18
  • Biden’s April 29, 2021 trip to Atlanta to celebrate his first 100 days in office cost $11,141.00 in hotels; $22,581.30 in car rentals; $47,659.56 on air/rail travel for a total of $81,384.86

This is the total price before the Air Force One travel expenses, as the Air Force has not yet given those numbers to Judicial Watch, and before the Secret Service gives the watchdog information on the expenses of his weekend trips to Delaware.

“The costs of presidential travel and security is of obvious public interest,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. “It is frustrating that after years of litigation through two presidential administrations, the Secret Service and Air Force are still stonewalling the costs of presidential travel.”

Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy asked White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki about the president’s trip to Nantucket for the holiday as many citizens struggle.

“What message does it send to the middle-class Americans President Biden says that he’s trying to help, who are struggling this week to cover the cost of the most expensive Thanksgiving ever, that the President is going to take a few days off at a billionaire’s compound in Nantucket?” he said.

“Well, first, I would say — I don’t know if you’ve cooked a turkey before, but a 20-pound turkey is a pretty big turkey.  I think we can all agree.  They’re about one dollar more.  So, not to minimize that — any increase in prices is something the President is concerned about, as is evidenced by his announcement today and as his efforts to push forward on additional relief for the American people,” the press secretary responded.

“But I just want to be clear that there are abundance of turkeys available.  They’re about one dollar more for a 20-pound bird, which is a huge bird if you’re feeding a very big family.  And that’s something that, again, we’ve been working to make sure people have more money in their pockets to address it as the economy is turning back on,” she said.

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But Doocy did not take that answer, and pressed Psaki.

“But the President said today that he was “sent here” to look out for these working- and middle-class families who are strained right now.  So, what should they read into him leaving now at this time of great personal and financial hardship for so many to go to Nantucket for the week?” he said.

“Well, first, I would say, Peter, that I hope you’re spending time with your family.  I’m spending time with my family, and I hope everybody in here is spending time with their families,” she said mockingly.

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“This is a time to put politics aside, spend time with your loved ones, and talk about what you’re grateful for.

“I will also tell you, from spending some time working for this President and a past President, that: You are President no matter where you are.  He will conduct his work from wherever he is, on any vacation, on any time he is in Delaware, at Camp David, or wherever he may be spending time with his loved ones,” the press secretary said.

“He has secure phone capabilities.  He has staff traveling with him.  And I think the American people can be assured that he will continue to press to lower their costs and ensure they have more breathing room,” she said.

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