Trump's loss-making Turnberry resort paid more than £50,000 by US government to cover costs of president's stay

Donald Trump’s loss-making Turnberry resort was paid more than £50,000 by his own government to cover the costs of his weekend stay in Scotland, it has been reported.

SLC Turnberry Limited, the company behind Mr Trump’s South Ayrshire hotel and golf course, received £52,477 for the President’s visit, according to US federal government spending records.

Mr Trump made a four day visit to the UK where he met with both Theresa May and the Queen before heading to his Scottish resort to enjoy a round of golf.

US federal money went towards hotel rooms used by Mr Trump and his staff during the two nights he spent at his resort, according to The Scotsman.

Although there is no breakdown of the costs, room rates at the Turnberry resort range from £132 per night up to £7,000.

Eric Trump, Mr Trump’s son, stayed in the £7,000 per night suite for two nights over the weekend, The Scotsman claimed.

Brendan Fischer, director of federal reform at the Campaign Legal Centre, a Washington DC-based non-partisan political watchdog, said Mr Trump used the visit to promote his golf course and “told US taxpayers to foot the bill”.

“This is another example of President Trump using the power and authority of his office to profit personally,” Mr Fischer said.

Former government ethics officials and watchdog groups said Mr Trump had failed to put safeguards in place to ensure that he does not directly profit from his actions as president.

“This is part of a pattern with this president of really doing everything he can to disgrace the office of the presidency by promoting his own private business interests,” said Stephen Spaulding, a lawyer with the public interest group Common Cause.

Eric Trump, who serves as a director for Turnberry, wrote that Trump properties do not profit from US government business.

"While not required, we have decided that for any United States Govt business, we charge our cost and do not profit from these stays. Much more would be spent if they stayed elsewhere," he wrote on Twitter.

A State Department spokeswoman declined to comment about the charges, and White House officials did not respond to a request for comment.