Netanyahu's Travel Expenses Reveal Lavish Spending on Hair, Makeup, and Smoking Fees

Documents released by the Prime Minister's Office following a freedom of information request have exposed a range of unusual expenses incurred during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visits to the United States in 2025. The "Success" organization received the documents, which detail costs beyond flights, hotels, and security, including over $13,000 for hair and makeup during one trip, $500 for "smoking fees," $295 for repairing an embassy door, and a $125 traffic ticket.

One notable expense from a February visit to Washington D.C. included $6,772 for a makeup artist and $6,747 for a hairdresser, totaling $13,519. The same trip also saw a $25,000 charge for the Prime Minister's suite, along with $511.50 for food within the suite and approximately $298 for laundry. A smaller line item of $500 was designated as "smoking fees" for a press conference room.

Further expenses from other trips included $6,072 for a makeup artist and hairdresser during an April visit, $1,228 for printers and toners, and $240 for a whiteboard and corkboard. The largest single expense in April was $51,661 for the Watergate hotel, with total documented costs for that trip reaching about $128,900.

During a July visit to Washington, a significant charge of $172,701.60 was recorded for the Willard InterContinental hotel. Amidst these costs, a $295 locksmith fee was noted for "repairing the embassy entrance door due to a malfunction during the Prime Minister's visit." Purchases from retailers like Amazon, Costco, and Target, along with catering, office supplies, and vehicle expenses, were also detailed.

In late September, during a visit to New York and Washington, a $125 "traffic report" fee was listed. The Prime Minister's suite at the Loews Regency hotel in New York cost $5,999 per night, totaling $41,993 for the stay, which coincided with the UN General Assembly. The Prime Minister's Office explained that high demand during this period necessitates booking rooms well in advance.

At the end of the year, a visit to Florida included the highest recorded nightly rate for the Prime Minister's suite at $10,000 per night, amounting to $50,000. Regular rooms for the entourage averaged around $250 per night. The itinerary included meetings with various U.S. officials and participation in a New Year's event at Mar-a-Lago. The entourage list for this trip was extensive, encompassing numerous staff from the Prime Minister's office and other departments.

The Prime Minister's Office cautioned that not all accounts are final, as the process of collecting and verifying invoices from suppliers can take many months. Payments for overseas visits are handled by the Foreign Ministry, with estimates provided before trips and final payments made after verification.