US Air Force crews enjoy Trump's Turnberry hospitality

There are some stories which bring a smile to my face. Recently amid all the gloom of Brexit and a key sacking from the White House (John Bolton), along came the revelation that US Air Force transport crews using Prestwick airport near Glasgow for refuelling are taken off by bus to Turnberry golf club to stay the night or two at Trump's Scotland resort. So Trump benefiting financially from having air force crews paying for rooms at his place. But what was really good fun was the detailed explanation from the Pentagon about why they spent the night at Turnberry rather than at the local fleapit. Well to be fair, American, and RAF, air crews, never stay in fleapit accommodation. They get decent hotel rooms, easily three-star and probably four-star. That's what air forces do. But according to the Pentagon it was cheaper to stay at the Turnberry golf club than the other nearby hotel, the Marriott. But of course the Marriott is not owned by Trump, the Turnberry is. Tricky one for the air force chaps. They are bound by admin rules to go for the cheaper option because they are using taxpayers'money. But when it's between a Trump-owned place and somewhere else does anyone in the Pentagon start to have worries about being accused of doing the president and his family's finances a favour. Trump of course said he had nothing to do with the decision and he probably didn't because why would he be asked about air crews and where they stay when in Scotland. If asked I have no doubt he would have replied: "Hey, they can stay at my place. We do rooms at good prices." Under those circumstances, the Pentagon would probably have responded, " Sorry Mr President but I don't think it would look right." But faced with a stark choice of booking Turnberry or Marriott when the latter is charging several pounds more a night is a difficult decision. I expect some officials probably said, "Fingers crossed no one will find out." But of course they did. Politico got the details and then it was all over every newspaper in the world. Now Politico is quoting the US Air Force as saying that air crews have stayed at Turnberry about 40 times since 2015. So a nice tidy sum for Trump Incorporated. But embarrassment all round for the air force and Pentagon. I suspect the last word will come from Congress.