The bill for the summer-work vacation of first lady Michelle Obama, accompanied to England and Italy by her daughters, mom, and staff, should easily top her entourage’s 2010 trip to Spain that cost an eye-popping $467,000.
While the White House didn’t provide cost estimates for the week-long visit to London, Milan, Venice, and Vincenza, Italy, the State Department put lodging costs for just a couple nights in Venice at $128,781, according to Free Beacon, and Air Force charges based on a 2012 document for flying her group on past overseas trips indicate that this one will hit $243,000.
Michelle Obama and her family arrive in Milan, Italy. AP Photo
Those charges alone total $371,781. Add in the still unknown lodging costs in London and Milan, based on the Venice hotel charges, and the price should top $600,000, or about $100,000 a day.
In England, the first lady had tea with Prince Harry. White House Photo
And that’s just for taxpayer funded airfare and lodging and doesn’t include security, staff and other transportation and food.
Michelle Obama participates in a cooking demonstration at the James Beard American Restaurant with Italian and American middle school students in Milan. AP Photo
Obama is currently in Milan where on Wednesday she toured the famous Santa Maria delle Grazie church, home to the mural of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. The trip has been well covered by fashion and celebrity news outlets.
First lady leaving England for Milan. She changed onboard. AP Photo
E! Online for example heralded their “summer-perfect dress tour.” People cheered, “Michelle, Sasha and Malia Obama looked refreshed and stylish as they deboarded Air Force One in summer sundresses after an in-flight wardrobe change.” Of course, “Air Force One” is the designation for when the president is on the aircraft, not the first lady.
The White House said her trip had three topics: In London, the “Let Girls Learn initiative,” in Milan the first lady’s “Let’s Move!” program, and Venice to visit cultural sites, and in nearby Vicenza, Italy to meet with U.S. troops. In England, Obama had tea with Prince Harry.
Arriving in Milan from England. AP Photo
The first lady often vacations with her mom and daughters and the charges of her trips have been documented by the taxpayer watchdog group Judicial Watch, which uncovered the high bills for their trip to Spain.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
