Jets owner and current U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Woody Johnson’s 2018 stay at President Donald Trump’s Scotland resort cost American taxpayers thousands, according to The Scotsman.
Johnson and his wife reportedly stayed at Trump Turnberry, the president’s Scotland resort, for two nights in the summer of 2018. Trump also reportedly visited the property while Johnson was present.
The report says that American taxpayers covered the bill for Johnson’s stay, which totaled over £1,143, according to a receipt released by the U.S. State Department under the Freedom of Information act. Under current exchange rates, £1,143 translates to roughly $1,477. According to the report, Johnson and his wife “enjoyed a £426 dinner with his wife during a visit to the US president’s Turnberry property and spent several hundred pounds on its golf offerings.”
A spokesperson told The Scotsman, “Ambassador Johnson has complied with all US government travel regulations.”
Johnson’s trip to Scotland is not the first time he has come under fire for his actions while serving as an ambassador under Trump. Reports from The New York Times and CNN over the summer said Johnson used his government position to benefit Trump’s personal business in the U.K. by trying to convince government officials to host the British Open, one of the PGA’s four major tournaments, at Trump Turnberry.
Johnson was also accused of making racist and sexist comments to staff, questioning why African Americans would want a Black History Month, resisting an event in which he asked if the crowd would be comprised of “a whole bunch of black people” and referring to Black fathers leaving their families as the “real challenge.” He also allegedly objectified, excluded and belittled women and women’s related events on multiple occasions.
The State Department inspector general investigated Johnson for his remarks and found that the Jets owner did make “inappropriate or insensitive comments.”