Let’s hope they’re economizing this year! Final cost of the Obamas’ Hawaii Christmas
two years ago revealed to be $500,000 PER DAY

DECEMBER 29, 2015


  • President and family flew to Hawaii on Dec. 18, are expected back in Washington on Jan. 4
  • Conservative group Judicial Watch has been critical of the Obamas' vacations and has released federal documents detailing the expenses to US taxpayers
  • Cost of latest trip estimated at $8.1 million, largely due to Secret Service costs
  • Total cost of eight annual vacations could top $56 million, group says


By J. Taylor Rushing, U.s. Political Reporter, For Dailymail.com


Published: 18:04 EST, 29 December 2015 | Updated: 13:36 EST, 30 December 2015



President Barack Obama's latest Hawaiian vacation with his family is costing U.S. taxpayers about $500,000 per day and $8.1 million over the
course of his presidency, according to new reports published Tuesday.


A native Hawaiian, Obama has visited the islands while president eight times for an annual Christmas vacation - with another possible in
December 2016, shortly before he leaves office.


The latest trip is costing Americans approximately $500,000 a day, according to a report in the Washington Examiner that
was based on Department of Homeland Security documents of Secret Service expenses for the Obamas' Dec. 2013-Jan. 2014 trip to Hawaii.

The documents were given to the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch by a federal court.


President Barack Obama's 17-day Hawaiian vacation for Christmas - his eighth - will cost US taxpayers more than $8 million






Earlier this month, Judicial Watch President Tom Fifton slammed Obama for treating Air Force One, which costs $206,000/hour to run,
'like an Uber ride' ahead of his next jaunt to his home state.'



At the time, JW estimated that fly-time alone will set taxpayers back somewhere in the region of $3.5 million as Obama, the First Lady,
Sasha and Malia and their two dogs jet off for around two weeks.


The total cost of Obama's vacations since taking office in January 2009 has now hit $70.5 million, the group said, with $56 million coming from the
trips to Hawaii.


On Tuesday, Judicial Watch complained that it took DHS two years to fulfill its records request, which showed Secret Service protection alone cost
taxpayers at least $316,698.03, bringing the total for that Hawaiian vacation to $8,098,060.33.


'It seems our lawsuits finally got the attention of the Secret Service. It is easy to see why the Secret Service, reeling from its own scandals, covered
up these outrageous expense numbers for just one of Obama's luxury Christmas vacation,' Fitton said.


'The $317,000 in Secret Service expenses are only the tip of the iceberg for the true cost of Obama's 2013 vacation in Hawaii, which has now
skyrocketed to $8,098,060. It is nice to know that Obama's 'tradition' of Christmas vacations in Hawaii comes courtesy of overburdened taxpayers.'


The Obamas have been staying on the island of Oahu, Hawaii's most populated island, in a rented, private home in an upscale neighborhood called Kailua.


The president's schedule has been heavy on golf, although he also went snorkeling on Tuesday and spurred some excitement when his motorcade drove
past a man flying a recreational drone.


Reports said 'unamused' Secret Service agents forced the drone down from the air, although no arrests were made.


Obama has made few public appearances during the trip, but did host a briefing on the U.S. military's efforts against the Islamic State terror army and
release a Christmas video message with First Lady Michelle Obama.



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