Bill for Trump’s latest campaign stop remains unpaid

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Former President and current Republican nominee Donald Trump is trying to break through the blue wall.

Last year he made over 17 stops in our state. His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, made 14 trips with several stops to Michigan.

In August I calculated the cost of Trump’s July visitand with another rally On the eve of the election, I wanted to know how much these political events are costing us and whether these bills are being paid.

“It’s like a football game in Michigan here,” Trump said in his inaugural speech in July.

Several months after Trump’s visit, Harris made her first stop on the west side. at a local park in Grand Rapids.

“It’s good to be back. It’s good to be back,” Harris said in October.

The two presidential candidates know Michigan is a key swing state with 15 electoral votes up for grabs.

“So let me first thank you all for taking time out of your busy lives to be here together this afternoon,” Harris told the crowd in October.

“I’m thrilled to be back in the great state of Michigan with thousands, thousands… I mean many thousands here,” Trump said in July.

Local municipalities charge fees for policing and security at the former president’s rally. In July, the cost to the city of Grand Rapids was more than $32,700.

A Grand Rapids spokesman explained that the city sent the bill to the Trump campaign on September 24, which is due on October 23.

As of the evening before the election, this bill had not been paid.

“I can tell you other times this has happened; in the contract, the Secret Service is responsible for covering local law enforcement and security costs,” said Trump national press secretary Caroline Leavitt.

She adds that she does not work in the billing department.

“So, again, I haven’t seen this particular bill, but I would suggest that the city should look to the U.S. Secret Service since they are responsible for these expenses, not the Trump campaign,” Leavitt explained.

I contacted the US Secret Service. We were sent this statement:

“State and local law enforcement plays a critical role in our ability to effectively protect the former President and other Secret Service patrons. However, the U.S. Secret Service currently does not have a mechanism to reimburse local governments for their support during protective activities. Congressional leaders, we have identified this as a critical need given the important roles our policing and public safety partners play. We will continue to work with Congress to secure the necessary resources and authorizations to support city, county and state law enforcement agencies. who help us every day,” wrote the head of the US Communications Service, Anthony Guglielmi.

Regarding the Harris campaign’s October visit, a Grand Rapids spokesman explained that the campaign pre-paid a special event bill for use of Riverside Park.

This bill was for $2,800.

A city spokesperson adds that another invoice may still be issued for related costs, which are still being calculated by the city.

Grand Rapids officials explained that the Trump campaign had paid all of its previous bills before the visit last July. We will monitor these accounts and provide updates as they become available.

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