Taxpayers will bear the bulk of the expenses for Jill Biden’s frequent flights between Wilmington, Delaware, and France, as she stood by her son Hunter during his federal gun trial. However, the Democratic Party will contribute some funds.
The first lady accumulated approximately $345,400 in flight expenses, estimated by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, as she shuttled between the United States and France last week. She opted for separate travel from her husband, President Joe Biden, to balance her family commitments in Delaware and her diplomatic role abroad.
Jill Biden’s office clarified that her political party will reimburse the government for the equivalent of a first-class fare for her flights to Wilmington and back to Paris, as per standard procedures followed across administrations. The Democratic National Committee, supported by donors, will handle this reimbursement, as confirmed by a White House official.
Specific dollar amounts for reimbursement and expenses related to accompanying aides were not disclosed. However, a first-class one-way trip from Philadelphia to Paris is approximately $6,655, according to a search on Google Flights.
Jill Biden spent extensive time in transit, totaling 24 hours on airplanes within three days, alternating between her son’s side and her husband’s duties. She dedicated four days to the Delaware courthouse and three days to activities in France, returning to the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington on Monday.
Her travel itinerary included departing from Washington DC to Wilmington on Tuesday evening, then flying from Wilmington to Paris on Wednesday evening. Subsequently, she returned from Paris to Wilmington on Thursday, followed by another flight to Paris on Friday after spending time at the courthouse.
The White House Military Office manages billing and determines ticket charges, typically applying first-class fees for non-official travelers. First Ladies typically utilize a Boeing C-32 plane for travel, with an hourly reimbursable rate of $13,816, according to the Air Force.
Travel calculations suggest that each leg of the trip costs around $110,528, given an 8-hour flight duration between Paris and Wilmington. Considering three round-trip flights between France and Wilmington, along with additional travel from Washington D.C. to Wilmington, the total expenditure reaches $345,400.
