This archive report was first published on 3 September 2019.
September 3, 2019
Washington, D.C. - Vice President Mike Pence is currently staying at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg in Ireland, a private golf club owned by President Trump.
According to Marc Short, an aide to Vice President Pence, the decision to stay at the Trump-owned property was made at the suggestion of President Trump.
Mr. Pence has family roots in Doonbeg and was originally scheduled to end his European trip there. However, his schedule was changed after President Trump directed him to stand in for him on an official trip to Poland.
Mr. Pence is traveling with his wife, mother, and sister, and is personally covering their expenses at the Doonbeg property. However, the Secret Service and other members of the vice president's traveling party staying there will mean a substantial bill paid by taxpayers.
When asked about the decision to stay at the Trump-owned property, Mr. Short said, 'I don't think it was a request, like a command. I think that it was a suggestion.' He added, 'It's like when we went through the trip, it's like, well, he's going to Doonbeg because that's where the Pence family is from. It's like, 'Well, you should stay at my place.'
