Earlier this year, Donald Trump made history by becoming the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl game. His brief five-and-a-half-hour visit to New Orleans came with a hefty price tag, according to newly released Secret Service records.
The expenses totaled $123,411, covering hotels, lodging, and security tied to Trump’s appearance at the Superdome.
Where the Money Was Spent
The Daily Mail reports that over $65,000 was spent on nine separate hotel bookings, including three hotels that each cost more than $16,000. Nearly $18,000 was spent at the Margaritaville Resort, while two additional lodging services added up to about $25,000.
Another $7,000 payment went directly to the NFL. The figures do not include meals, flights, or agent fees, which would increase the overall total.
Secret Service staff had already been in New Orleans for five days ahead of Trump’s arrival, coordinating one of the largest Super Bowl security operations ever staged.
Unprecedented Security Measures
Law enforcement flooded the city with drones, rooftop snipers, armed guards, and bomb-sniffing dogs to ensure safety. Vehicles entering the Superdome went through a massive X-ray machine designed to detect explosives.
Before kickoff, Trump met with families of victims from the New Year’s Eve ISIS attack on Bourbon Street, posing for photos before heading onto the field with his children, Ivanka and Eric.
On the sidelines, he shook hands with Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones before settling in to watch the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, 40–22.
Trump’s Public Appearances and Security Costs
The Super Bowl wasn’t the only event requiring high-level security for Trump. At Yankee Stadium on the anniversary of 9/11, the team installed protective glass panels in front of his seating area as part of heightened precautions.
When later asked on the White House lawn if he feared for his safety, Trump responded:
“Not really. I’m really concerned for our country. We have a radical left group of lunatics out there, just absolute lunatics, and we’re gonna get that problem solved. I’m only concerned for the country.”
A Pricey Public Spotlight
Trump’s appearance at the Super Bowl highlighted both his enduring popularity and the extraordinary security costs tied to his public life. The bill of more than $120,000 underscores the level of resources required whenever the former president makes an appearance on the national stage.
