The Secret Service incurred additional costs at the beginning of the Trump presidency as First Lady Melania Trump opted to stay in the couple's gold plated penthouse in New York City. Since then, the Secret Service continues to record extra costs associated with President Trump's almost weekly ventures to his own properties.
Now, the Department of Homeland Security agency is looking at the purchase of jet skis due to the First Family's enjoyment of water sports.
In this case, the water sports enthusiast is not the President, but rather other members of the family.
The memo is reportedly from an official US Secret Service request for purchase (USSS-RFP), requesting the jet skis to “enhance safety/security for protective assignments on the water.”
According to the memo:
"The First Family is very active in water sports. Several family members along with their guest (sic) participate in open water activities for which [United States Secret Service] Special Agent Rescue Swimmers are responsible."
SECRET SERVICE JET SKIS- US Secret Service is ordering jet skis for its agents. In part, because of Mar-a-Lago… https://t.co/OWwxZpGHvc— Scott MacFarlane (@Scott MacFarlane) 1568643282.0
The travel and housing expenses being incurred by the Secret Service and other government support agencies in relation to President Trump and his family—and now even the Vice President—insisting on only staying at Trump owned properties has been a bone of contention for some time. Before his election, Trump criticized President Obama for any personal travel and for playing golf.
Candidate Trump insisted he would be too busy to ever play golf, but his golf travel expenses are approaching the eight year total of President Obama in just the first 2 1/2 years of his presidency.
The news of the latest Trump related Secret Service expense had people online asking questions.
QotD: @realDonaldTrump What are the "water sports" that you engage in that requires the Secret Service to buy jet skis? #JetSkis 491 to go— Joris de Vries (@Joris de Vries) 1568655937.0
Tired: Ha! Secret service on jetskis--probably wearing suits carrying guns. Wired: Paid with personal funds to do t… https://t.co/LSL8yZWOar— Seasonal Frye (@Seasonal Frye) 1568645741.0
@MacFarlaneNews Maybe they should also buy golf carts so they don't have to keep renting from the tRump's.— Janine Dupras 🏳️🌈 (@Janine Dupras 🏳️🌈) 1568648453.0
@MacFarlaneNews Secret Service agents "rented watercraft with their own personal funds"?? Wut?? Make the Trumps pay… https://t.co/aCHrWGg7UZ— Vulcan🖖Writer✒Mom💁 (@Vulcan🖖Writer✒Mom💁) 1568651559.0
@MacFarlaneNews Those should go nicely with the golf carts that go 3 mph faster then the Trump golf club ones they… https://t.co/6OSQT19Wx6— Craig (@Craig) 1568645636.0
@MacFarlaneNews @SenatorBurr @SenThomTillis @RepRichHudson Is this in the budget? Is this why you want to take my S… https://t.co/WXroD9yV93— Charklo (@Charklo) 1568651199.0
@MacFarlaneNews https://t.co/WdKc5t5lg2— WordsMatter (@WordsMatter) 1568646238.0
Others had...thoughts.
@MacFarlaneNews @mattyglesias Does someone need to explain “water sports” to the secret service?— Fernando Evil (@Fernando Evil) 1568649405.0
@MacFarlaneNews We always knew the Trump family's affinity for water sports was costing the country, but not like this.— Lenny (@Lenny) 1568645950.0
@MacFarlaneNews We've known about Trump's affinity for "water sports" since the Steele dossier but I didn't realize… https://t.co/9fGEWhI8pG— Ryan Feinberg (@Ryan Feinberg) 1568650871.0
@MacFarlaneNews LOL https://t.co/Po2L9CfP0X— Vulcan🖖Writer✒Mom💁 (@Vulcan🖖Writer✒Mom💁) 1568651395.0
@tedlieu But we're buying the Secret Service JetSkis so Trump's huge family can be rescued in a heartbeat while the… https://t.co/i36nK6kjCv— ChristiniYogini (@ChristiniYogini) 1568649851.0
I'm sure I'm not the first to ask, but do Russian hotels allow jetskis? https://t.co/5XFssNkHdk— Craig Naples (@Craig Naples) 1568663251.0
The Secret Service declined to comment on the memo or the jet skis.
In lieu of a jet ski, an adult personal flotation device is available here.
Amazon
********
Listen to the first four episodes of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!' where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.
Be sure to subscribe here and never miss an episode.