Netanyahu's US Trips Cost Thousands for Coffee, Makeup, Hotels

Public watchdog group "Atzlaḥa" has revealed new details regarding the significant expenses incurred during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's, his wife Sara's, and their accompanying delegation's trips to the United States in 2025. The data, obtained from the Prime Minister's Office, highlights costs for luxury accommodations, flights on the "Knaph Zion" aircraft, and even seemingly minor expenses like coffee and makeup artists, which collectively amounted to thousands of dollars.

One notable trip involved the Netanyahus spending New Year's Eve at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. They stayed in a Four Seasons suite costing approximately $10,000 per night, totaling around $50,000 for their six-day stay. Meanwhile, accompanying staff were accommodated in standard rooms at $250 per night. The flight on "Knaph Zion" for this trip alone cost the state $423,407.

During a September 2025 visit to Washington D.C. and New York, flights cost $359,281, with the Prime Minister's suite at the Loews Regency hotel costing $6,000 per night. Total expenses for this trip reached $41,993, including $1,200 for a makeup artist, $1,500 for food and beverages, and $400 for transportation, plus a $125 fine.

Other documented expenses include a July visit with $172,701 for accommodation at the Willard InterContinental, additional spending on food and repairs at the embassy, and customs fees. A three-day trip in April to Washington D.C. included $51,000 for the Watergate hotel and $3,036 for each makeup and hairstylist services. This trip also saw spending on snacks, printers, toner, and notepads.

Further details from a February visit reveal costs of approximately $6,700 each for makeup and hairstyling, $4,800 for lighting equipment, and $840 for flags and badges. The Prime Minister's suite cost $25,000, with laundry services adding about $300. The documents also list a $500 charge for smoking in a press conference hall and $480 for COVID-19 tests for two delegates. These revelations follow a previous report by "Cursor" about the Prime Minister's Office releasing data on official residence expenses after a request from the "Movement for Freedom of Information."