U.S. Government Paid Trump-Owned Scottish Golf Resort $77,000 Before His Visit

The U.S. government reportedly forked over more than $77,000 to Trump Turnberry, Donald Trump s reportedly unprofitable golf resort in Scotland , in the lead-up to the presidents recent stay at the property.

Starting in April, the State Department paid $77,345.35 in several tranches to SLC Turnberry Ltd, the Trump company that owns the Scottish resort, reported Reuters on Wednesday. Citing federal government spending records, which were first reported by The Scotsman , the news agency said the payments were listed as being for hotel rooms for VIP visit.

Its unclear whether all the payments were made to cover Trumps recent stay at the resort. About $70,000 of the total amount was paid out in the days leading up to the presidents two-day visit to his property last week, Reuters said.

SCOOP: Federal govt spending records reveal Trump Org businesses made tens of thousands of dollars during President Trump's trip to his Scotland golf club & resort propertiesrouted through SLC Turnberry Ltdwith U.S. taxpayer money footing the bill https://t.co/6Fq1tP3H75 pic.twitter.com/LTHpgxSjsY

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SCOOP: Federal govt spending records reveal Trump Org businesses made tens of thousands of dollars during President Trump's trip to his Scotland golf club & resort propertiesrouted through SLC Turnberry Ltdwith U.S. taxpayer money footing the bill https://t.co/6Fq1tP3H75 pic.twitter.com/LTHpgxSjsY
Anna Massoglia (@annalecta) July 17, 2018

Trump, whos come under scrutiny in the past for refusing to put his assets in a blind trust, has retained ownership of his hotels and other properties, including Turnberry (for which Trump shelled out more than $200 million in cash in 2014 to buy and renovate, and has been bleeding money for years ).

Since Trump took office, his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have been in charge of the day-to-day operations of his businesses. Still, ethics experts and watchdog groups say the president has failed to abide by his promise to clearly separate his businesses from his administration.

This is another example of President Trump using the power and authority of his office to profit personally, Brendan Fischer, director of federal reform at the Campaign Legal Center, told The Scotsman, reacting to the news of the governments hefty payments to Turnberry.

President Trump not only used the occasion of a state visit to promote his Trump-branded golf course , but told U.S. taxpayers to foot the bill, Fischer said.

The Trump Organization told The Washington Post this week that Trump-owned properties do not profit from U.S. government business.

For United States government patronage, our hotels charge room rates only at cost and we do not profit from these stays, the company said.

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Eric Trump echoed this position in a Wednesday tweet defending his father.

We charge our COST and do NOT profit from these stays. Much more would be spent if they stayed elsewhere, he wrote, before suggesting the Trump business had actually done a good deed.

Thanks @dmartosko. These people are so knowingly dishonest - while not required, we have decided that for any United States Govt business, we charge our COST and do NOT profit from these stays. Much more would be spent if they stayed elsewhere. #FakeNews #NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished https://t.co/SBQLDCIsIB

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Thanks @dmartosko . These people are so knowingly dishonest - while not required, we have decided that for any United States Govt business, we charge our COST and do NOT profit from these stays. Much more would be spent if they stayed elsewhere. #FakeNews #NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished https://t.co/SBQLDCIsIB
Eric Trump (@EricTrump) July 17, 2018