From the article: The crew, which consisted of active duty and national guard members from Alaska, was charged $136 per room, which was less expensive than a Marriott property’s rate of $161. And both were under the per diem rate of $166. “A local agent on contract with the U.S. government assisted with the reservations and indicated that there wasn’t a room available closer to Prestwick airport.
There is no issue here. All we have is yet one more article (out of MANY PER DAY) from the clearly biased news media going after Trump over pure nonsense. Move on to real news. I've lost a lot of respect for the New York Times these past couple of years. They've become a heavily biased, anti-Trump excuse for a newspaper.
@ABC123 "The number of such stops by Air Force planes at Prestwick rose from 180 in 2017 to 257 last year and 259 so far this year. The 259 stops this year included 220 overnight stays. Since October 2017, records show 917 payments for expenses including fuel at the airport worth a total of $17.2 million."
The can afford to charge a little less per room because business is booming at our expense.
33
@ABC123 The House Oversight Committee has been investigating trips like these since April. Should the news media not cover the activities of the Committee? Politico broke the story. Should they have not done so out of a sense of propriety to Trump? Would you be happier with a government press office that OKs what may be reported?
8
@ABC123
Trump signed an agreement with the airport that they would send aircrews to his hotel.
There is always plenty of space in the many hotels close to the airport.
Sending them to a Luxury hotel 20 miles away is the product of a sweetheart deal between DJT and Prestwick
Prestwick makes money by selling high priced fuel to the air force in lieu of cheaper fuel on nearby US AF bases in the UK.
9
I expect the 2014 deal just illustrates the general corruption in military spending that enables rich people to fleece the government.
The expansion of this graft post election is even worse, and likely a violation of the domestic emoluments clause.
10
Lining his own pockets using taxpayers' money here. This must be amongst the most damning evidence of self-enrichment and defiance of the emoluments clause by Trump to date.
This story needs to stay front and centre in the news, with all other Trump properties thoroughly investigated, until Congress has no choice but to take action.
16
Trump is simply a thief and to leave him in power is a disgrace to every single American - to say nothing of the Scots.
And the United States Air Force should be ashamed of themselves.
(Note: I'm a Navy veteran)
18
The deal between Trump and the Air Force was sealed in 2014. Looks like Obama/Biden did one thing right!
1
@Larry "Mr. Trump’s continued ownership of his business produces regular ethical questions." And that is why he lied about it.
Get it, Larry?
15
While I believe that what trump is doing is criminal and a violations of the Emoluments Clause, assume for a second that it is not. The appearance stinks to high heaven.
Has the president no bar beneath which he will not lower himself? Shouldnt the president of the US, even donny trump, be above the petty business of government? Trump, whom I cannot call president, is an embarrassment. If a tin horn dictator forced his military to pay him to stay at his hotels, we would be astonished that a country allows it.
Trump thinks himself a tin-horn dictator. He is an abomination to democracy and to American ideals.
21
Is there anyone left in the U.S. government that is interested in enforcing the law? Is it just a free for all - let the greedy fool grab all he can?
23
Suddenly, the plot thickens.
4
Clearly we are a nation in decline. Here’s proof pudding.
13
Emoluments clause, anyone? It's time to get rid of Trump once and for all.
12
Trump's resort charges $136 / night for the air crews. Did it provide Mike Pence and staff the same rate? Actually it should offer that rate to any US Goverment employee, staff and security detail. Did it?
9
Look how far the morals bar has been lowered. Officials and reporters feel compelled to seek irrefutable evidence that trump directed pence and others to patronize his properties on the taxpayer dime. What we should be looking for is evidence that, as "president," trump issued an order that--in the interest of guarding against even an appearance of impropriety--no taxpayer money is to be spent at any of his properties.
31
"So what is happening is the following: Every time you find a person landing in an airplane within 500 miles of something I own, Mike Pence, as an example, his family lives in Doonbeg, Ireland."
Is this supposed to be a full sentence? That is the question.
27
So if Pence has family there, why didn't he stay with them? When I visit family I stay with them.
16
Hail to the commander in thief!
21
Every word out of his mouth is a lie, including "and" and "the."
26
Sick to exhaustion of this corrupt and criminal individual. From the day he took the oath of office, he has sullied the presidency. And no one stops him.
34
@Gardengirl "....suggesting that he was so wealthy that the business was inconsequential to him." Such a lie.
Is it any wonder 45 is doing EVERYTHING he can to keep his taxes hidden? Between that lie and the foreign influences his financial dealings have caused, his corruption of our Government alone is criminal. Impeach. Then, indict.
25
@Gardengirl
If you Google "oath definition", a definition from the Oxford Dictionary is "a profane or offensive expression used to express anger or other strong emotions". From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, "an irreverent or careless use of a sacred name". From Dictionary.com, "an irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God or anything sacred". Other dictionaries have similar definitions. Trump apparently thinks those definitions are what was intended, instead if the one intended by the Founding Fathers.
3
@r kress, sorry, part of $17.2 million is not inconsequential to anyone.
5
Life-long fraud artist and known liar gets caught lying, yet again.
21
Join the US military! Be deployed to Trump resorts around the world!
What a joke.
23
US taxpayers fleeced again by Trump like the Scots shear their sheep.
25
Every day is a sickening assault on the senses. You can't escape the image of this repugnant human being, his disgusting behavior and the revolting worship of his enablers.
21
“'Forging a new partnership between the airport and the Trump Organization will undoubtedly be mutually beneficial,' Iain Cochrane, then the chief executive of the airport, said at the time of Mr. Trump’s visit."
Yes, but everything trump touches dies.
This problem arises because trump evades the law in the Emoluments Clause and the U.S. government lets him evade the law in the Emoluments Clause. The dealings between trump Turnberry and Prestwick were bound to cause controversy, but our government abetted them by allowing those transactions. No one was responsible for flagging these transactions. It was left up to the free press to bring them to light.
It's one more reason why the U.S. is on the way to fascism. We have to put an end to this decline in 2020. Unfortunately only one political party can stem the tide, as the Republican Party now endorses fascism.
14
Mr. "Art of the Deal" does make great deals, as long as he gets paid.
7
@Bob
It is not really a deal if you own both sides of the transaction.
Donald "owns" the government and he owns the hotels.
When he has the one pay the other, that is not really deal making.
At best it might be termed "robbing Donald to pay Donald"
9
And robbing the American taxpayer (from which the Trumps, apparently, are deviously exempted) to pay Donald.
8
@John B you did read the article, didn’t you? The deal was struck in 2014 during the Obama/Biden regime
Should we be surprised by any of this? Of course, the administration will ignore and justify this information.
Good news, however....Trump's real estate in NYC is 6.5% down compared to other commercial realtors in the city....no one wants to go to any of his properties. And apparently a 5 star restaurant located in one of his NYC properties ("International") is down 27% in revenue!
12
For someone as possessed with making many and a profit from his name-brand as Trump is, it's hard to believe when he says he knew "NOTHING" about this.
Emoluments Clause, anybody?
7
Gotta admit he is slick.
Refuses a presidential salary fully knowing he can do better with all the extra income he can get away with.
Always the con.
11
I wouldn't mind staying there.
1
@Fred Join the Air Force and you can.
4
The flight crew should not be staying at Trump's property or any other US politician's property even it is a better price. Can someone tell me the difference in per unit price of jet fuel between military base and private airport?
11
@Jim Burke I am sure we will hear more about how the American people are being fleeced, as well we should. Giving away rooms a cut rate prices for free publicity through use of 'his' presidency is abuse of power AND the Emoluments Clause. Sadly nothing will come of it with the unethical Senate firmly in the clutches of the Trump Nationalist Party.
12
@Jim Burke We heard on tv coverage, the military always get fuel at bases and stay there also. Big diff in fuel price.
4
Even though the airmen got their rooms at rate within perdiem, it wasn't entirely a great deal.
The per diem has a hotel cap and an amount for Meals and Incidentals. At a place like Trump's hotels the burgers and beers are going to be very over priced.
If they did the stopover at a US base in England the burgers would be cheap and the beer would be tax free.
The MIE allowance would be generous.
21
Regardless of the dollar amounts, higher, lower, whatever, this practice amounts to self-dealing, pure and simple ... using one's official government office to enrich his or her own pocket. That's not right. Even Republicans know it.
73
@txasslm And it's EXACTLY how the Russian oligarchs operate.
10
@txasslm. You did read that the deal was reached in 2014, right? Thanks Barack!
I am amazed that his wonderful golf resort at Turnberry has so many vacancies. I would think a golf course built on the shores of the North Sea would be unbelievably successful 12 months a year.
11
Wrong body of water. The North Sea is on the other side of the island.
@John
The resort has been losing money since the day it opened.
And I suspect it will continue to do so, even with emergency injections of taxpayer dollars courtesy of the Air Force.
7
Ok I didn’t look at a map I should have said shore of Firth of the Clive. But it’s close to the North Atlantic and must get some strong north winds. It must be a summer place to be.
3
Conflict of Interest plain and simple.
An elected official that owns a hotel, restaurant, construction company, car dealership, or any business, means that the government, or any of it's officials, cannot do business with that entity.
This is going on in Florida, Scotland and where else? How many Trump family business are getting business from the US government? Publish the full list.
39
@Hope
It doesn't conflict with Trump's interests.
The large spike in airforce refueling stops/overnights at Prestwick after Trump's election was not coincidental.
Almost certainly there was a firm communication with DoD that precipitated this shift.
And it must have taken place on Mattis' watch and with Mattis' knowledge.
Trump's role in this is unsurprising. Mattis' likely complicity is very disappointing.
Et tu, Mad Dog?
18
Trip advisor show 21 hotels within 3 miles of Prestwick Airport.
Most are in the $75/$110 range and many are very large.
Having the air crews travel 20 miles to stay in a luxury hotel is certainly dubious.
27
@John B - consider whether or not, when a US active duty person has made reservations at a hotel costing less than his or her per diem dictates, doesn't he or she have the right to choose where they stay?
2
@willw
Yes and no The service may direct you where to stay.
If you choose a hotel 20 miles away from your duty station you may:
A) be denied reimbursement for 40 miles of rountrip taxi rides
B) be denied part of your hotelclaim because the hotel was out of area when there were hotels in area.
If I am on temporary duty at Quantico in Virginia and I choose to stay at the Hay Adams hotel in DC, the Corps may elect not to reimburse my $75 taxi ride each way from hotel to work station.
8
In Trumpworld he's never responsible, to blame, at fault, wrong, culpable, or aware that a problem existed. Remarkable how an obscure Scottish airport near Turnberry and on the verge of bankruptcy is miraculously resuscitated by US Air Force layovers that always took place at military bases in the UK, Spain, or Germany. Where fuel isn't charged at commercial rates. Why, if not for the proximity to Trump's failing golf club, are these stops required?
24
How much does fuel cost at Prestwick? How does that compare to fuel at other airports, especially ones that the US Military already owns? Prestwick is apparently in some financial distress, right? Are US $ propping up a Scottish airport to keep it open for Turnberry?
16
Never, until president 45’s reign, did I think (or believe) our U.S. Constitution gave the Chief Executive a blank check to continually violate the Constitution without negative Congressional consequences. Shocking and sad to witness.
27
WE, as a country, need to now understand trump at last. He is a person who pays no attention to customs or rules and never has. I believe the term is 'anti-social'. Nothing he says or does surprises me. It is all readily predictable. I posted on twitter two months ago that he was manipulating the stock markets via tweets and now have heard that analysis on the radio as well as in articles. It was an easy con to spot. The problem with such a personality is the following: he will keep breaking laws, lying and acting outside the box until he is forcefully stopped. His behavior is compulsive and uncontrollable. Unfortunately for all of us, he has chosen a life of crime much like any mobster who has been given the opportunity to do so. And equally unfortunate, we have millions in our population who admire such behavior and consider it bold and smart. It is not. He remains a 6 times bankrupted reality show actor incapable of being the president of our country.
27
Trump's doing a good job of mis-directing and confusing the issue for Americans and the media. Ethically-speaking, it's inconsequential whether he's directing this, ordering it, or even asks for it.
The real question is: Is he doing anything to stop it? (Answer: No.)
He's profiting off of his position. That's the definition of a corrupt leader.
17
Cheaper alternatives to Prestwick Commerical Airport include the Air Bases run by the US airforce (jointly with RAF) in England:
Lakenheath Air Force in Lakenheath, United Kingdom
Alconbury in Alconbury, United Kingdom
Fairford Air Force Base in Fairford, United Kingdom
Mildenhall Air Force in Mildenhall, United Kingdom
Menwith Hill Air Force Harrogate, United Kingdom
Fuel is cheaper. Crew Lodging on base is much cheaper. Meals are cheaper. I know from personal experience that both Mildenhall and Lakenheath offer a choice of American style bars on base and English pubs with local ale. The RAG don't much care for Bud and Corona. The beer at both is tax free.
20
I'll admit that I personally loathe Donald Trump, so I'm inclined to offer little resistance when I read yet one more story about the very old, endlessly spooling-out story of the dizzying heights achieved by DFT (not a typo) as Biggest Ever Corrupt POTUS.
Indeed, I'm more inclined to roll my eyes (what else is new) than to let DFT's epic shenanigans ruffle my morning one more time.
And I concur with all essential points that John Hart, from Pittsford, NY, makes in his Times Pick comment below: This Scottish airport/U.S. Air Force/Trump golf resort connection does appear to be an almost accidental conjunction of events and interests. We depend on the Fourth Estate to expose corruption in government, and the American press has deservedly been dining out on the Trumpian levels of corruption now rampant in this administration.
But I have to wonder: at what point do we draw the line between legitimate analysis, exposure of corruption, and critique, and mere gotcha-journalism?
Just wondering.
2
@DameAlys
Trump is worthy of gotcha stories.
If we caught Jimmy Carter in some minor peccadillo I might give him a onetime free pass.
4
@DameAlys: Yes, the trump administration has broken many ways that we transact in this society.
2
Were any $120 cheesesteaks served though?
4
@Hank
That is the rub for the airmen. They lose money paying for Trump burgers and Trump beer.
3
America has its eyes wide shut to just about everything that goes on it the country. Using the Oval Office as your place of business is pretty clever though, I must admit!
6
Its pretty clear he is very aware of his business interests and how they are affected by his Presidency, if not running them from the Oval Office. That may not be illegal, but it is unethical.
The appearance of impropriety. The appearance of a conflict. The perception is not only damaging in and of itself to the office, but it often is a red flag that an actual conflict will develop down the road.
There is a reason that every prior occupant of the Oval Office has placed their business interests in a blind trust and in the case of Trump’s very active businesses (as opposed to most of his predecessors whose investments were passive),it was even more important.
I am not certain at all that this whole Scottish imbroglio is anything more than the appearance of impropriety. But it is more evidence of his utter lack of any moral or ethical compass and lack of fitness for the office.
He once said he could run his businesses and be President, but he wouldn’t do it. He was referring to the fact that there was no legal prohibition, a fact because no one had ever contemplated the need to pass a law in case someone without any ethical core ever becoming President.
I am not convinced at all that he is not actively involved in his businesses, but that is really beside the point.
His protestations notwithstanding, an ethical President would not allow his business interests to stain the office of the Presidency.
91
@John Hart: Yes, but trump continues to get away with it, and all we have are displays of indignation.
Trump is an incumbent president with a good economy (despite recent efforts to convey the contrary). He could be reelected in 2020, with still no capability in the government to address his violations of the Emoluments Clause.
If trump is reelected, you can only hope that Dems sweep congress in 2020. It is then that we will successfully impeach and try trump. His innocence of charges is extremely doubtful. And maybe he'd resign.
16
@Charles
Trump will be re- elected unless his opponent is Bernie Sanders. A corporate Dem. will not win.
3
The appearance of a conflict of interest is there. Sounds like the military is deftly handling the investigation given the optics.
“Let’s make sure we are considering potential for misperception that could be created by where we billet the aircrews,” he said. “It is a reasonable ask for us to make sure we are being sensitive to misperceptions that could be formed by the American people or Congress or anyone else.”
9
I'm disappointed to see that President Trump had nothing to do with saving taxpayers money by ordering the AF crew to stay at a superior property for less money.
I'm glad to see the NYTimes reporting on the win win situation for taxpayers and our troops, even if the President himself had nothing to do with it.
Thank you NYTimes for your robust objectivity and keen investigative reporting.
@Wally Greenwell
How does Trump directing aircraft and crews to this airport and his hotel save money?
Prestwick is a commercial airport that charges much more for fuel than US AFB Lakenheath AFB or Mildenhall in the UK
The Turnberry resort costs far more than enlisted and officer temporary quarters at Lakenheath AFB or Mildenhall AFB in the UK.
At Prestwick there are more than 20 hotels within 2 miles of the airport costing between $74/$110 room.
So explain to us how Trumpis saving money.
4
Could you explain why you are for self-dealing like this?
5
There have been countless instances of the appearance of or plain outright corruption in the Trump administration. This does not appear to be one of those and the NYT should not be trying to imply that it is.
4
@Frogman I concur. The deal was set up as a regular business arrangement (perhaps privileged but no more so than any other moneyed interest) before Trump was President. On the surface, the overnight stays seem to be reasonably based on availability and competition.
@Paul
The large increase in Air Force refueling and overnighting at Prestwick that happens just after DJT moves into the WH is what makes this dirty.
DJY needs to save Prestwick from bankruptcy in order to save his Turnberry Hotel from bankruptcy.
Th $millions in fuel purchases and air service costs are key to keeping his loss-making hotel afloat.
9
@Paul Why the increase in military plane refuleing from 180 to 259 since 2016?
9
Next: The military and all government employees will have to eat Trump steaks and wear Ivanka Trump uniforms at taxpayer expense.
Whoops- I'm joking, but I shouldn't give him any ideas.
38
Yeah, the only hotel with room availability is 20 miles away and owned by trump. And that situation has increased significantly since 2016.
35
And Jimmy Carter sold his peanut farm...
Geez, how low we have sunk since then.
I have no problem with folks trying to promote their businesses, but not on the backs of US taxpayers...
Impeach Trump and return to the separation of government and personal business.
38
"...provide the latest evidence of how Mr. Trump’s continued ownership of his business produces regular ethical questions."
You say "produces regular ethical questions," I say "breaks the law."
ToMAto toMAHto? I think not... why the kid gloves?
21
Just like a shoplifter who feels emboldened after his/her first pinch; so too does Trump with his brash defiance of emolument rules.
44
Please keep beating the drum around this story. Perhaps it will at least rattle a few Americans' out of their brainwash when they learn how their taxes are propping up Trump's golf courses and hotels. Our nation must not be allowed to become a kleptocracy!
41
@CK "Our nation must not be allowed to become a kleptocracy."
Too late.
4
I know it looks bad, but it they were the lowest priced option what is the fuss? Why Mike Pence was staying there, hundreds of miles from his meetings, is another issue.
2
@David C. Clarke
They were not the lowest price option. Many hotels much closer and less expensive.
13
@David C. Clarke
The *lowest priced option* is at a military base where the charge for visiting personnel is $0.00. Why do you defend the criminal trump?
10
@Gardengirl
actually, you pay a little for temporary quarters at an Air Force Base, but not much.
3
The idea that American military personnel are being funneled to a Trump property, and that this is illegal, is not a "misperception," even if the deputy commander of the Air Force Air Mobility Command thinks it is.
It is a fact. And it must be exposed and acted upon.
Trump's military party planners are using U.S. taxpayer dollars to shore up a failing business.
106
@Sallyforth
There are more than 20 hotels within 3 miles of the airport. Most are large and moderately priced.
9
@Sallyforth
Classic gaslighting. "We're not breaking the law. You people are all just crazy."
4
@Sallyforth
We all know nothing will happen and Trump will get yet another "pass." Democrats, unfortunately, do not have bold, strong leadership. Does anyone really think Nancy Pelosi or Chuck Schumer are going to step up?
3