When Donald Trump was mulling a run for the White House back in 2000, Fortune magazine reported that he had combined his political appearances with 10 paid speeches for motivational guru Tony Robbins, so he could earn money while assessing a candidacy. “It’s very possible that I could be the first presidential candidate to run and make money on it,” Trump told the magazine. The sentiment may prove prescient.
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When it comes to political campaigns, the U.S. Secret Service pays for agent travel, be it on aircraft, trains, boats or automobile. The campaigns of both Trump and Hillary Clinton have been paid a total of $5.45 million for flying agents around, according to the last tally available from the Federal Election Commission. Of that, $2.74 million was attributable to protecting Trump.
Unlike Clinton, Trump didn’t need to charter an airplane since he flew on his own jets. As a result, while the Secret Service chipped in for its share of what the Clinton campaign paid to charter a plane, when it came to Trump’s campaign, the federal agency effectively just paid him.
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Once they take office, Trump, Vice President-elect Mike Pence and their wives will travel on U.S. military aircraft. What’s not clear is how their seven adult children, their spouses or any other relatives will travel if they are under federal protection. If they’re traveling with Trump or Pence, they’ll likely fly on Air Force One or Air Force Two. At other times, however, Trump’s children might fly on a private jet—potentially one Trump owns.
