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When the media began to report that the federal archives showed that First Lady Melania Trump's trip to Africa included a huge hotel bill, her spokeswoman went to Twitter to push back this information, calling them "irresponsible journalism". But Stephanie Grisham, director of communications Melania, does not dispute the amount of the bill. On the contrary, she refutes the information that the bill provides for an overnight stay. According to Grisham, Melania has accumulated a $ 95,050 bill in Cairo in just six hours.
The Federal Expenditure Records indicate that the State Department paid Semiramis Intercontinental Cairo a total of $ 95,050 for what it termed "FLOTUS Visit Hotel Rooms". According to the receipt, the payment was made on September 30, about a week before the first lady's visit on October 6. The first reports of Quartz and The hill said that Melania had spent the night at the hotel, which the spokeswoman for the first woman refuted Friday in a series of posts on Twitter.
"The first lady did not stay overnight in Cairo, "Grisham tweeted to Quartz." This is an example of irresponsible journalism & had some … fact checked things [with] me, it could have been avoided. "
Quartz later reported that Grisham had told them that Melania had not spent the night at the hotel and that she was in Cairo only for six hours.
In a separate tweet, Grisham said that she asked for an immediate correction of The hillbut added that "unfortunately, the damage caused by this false statement is made". Bustle has contacted Grisham for a comment.
The State Department receipt does not include any detailed fees, which means that it is impossible to know exactly how many coins were purchased and for how long (the first lady travels with the service secret and staff, some of whom may have had to arrive in advance) and or what other services could be purchased as part of the first lady's visit. But it should be noted that the Semiramis Intercontinental Cairo is an upscale hotel where, according to its website, room rates start at about $ 100 and suites prices at about $ 240. The Presidential Suite of the hotel costs between $ 488 and $ 699 depending on the time of booking.
However, Grisham does not seem to be directly contesting the $ 95,050 bill. However, she questioned the source of the information provided by the Federal Expenditure Records and said that her team was now looking into where the $ 95,050 could come from. PEOPLE magazine.
The first lady's $ 95,000 hotel bill, which taxpayers eventually take, is only the last aspect of her trip to Africa to have been criticized. For her first major solo international trip, Melania visited four African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and Egypt. But some criticized the activities of the first lady – visits with orphans and baby elephants – evoking certain stereotypes on the continent. Melania's decision to wear a white marrow helmet during a safari in Nairobi also provoked strong criticism from those who considered him a symbol of colonialism.
Nor is it the first time that Trumps' expenses are criticized. In September, a report by TMZ citing federal documents claims that President Donald Trump's golf car rentals cost taxpayers over $ 300,000, which provoked a sharp social media reprimand.
But if it cost the first lady $ 95,050 for a six-hour visit to Cairo, the real question is: what is the total bill for her trip to Africa?
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