Steve Mnuchin: Requested Government Jet for Honeymoon, Used Military Plane for Solar Eclipse Viewing
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The government plane honeymoon request was denied after it became public in August 2017. Mnuchin said he had made the request for security reasons and had not been aware of the cost. The Kentucky solar eclipse trip drew IG scrutiny when reports emerged that Linton had asked whether she could accompany Mnuchin on the official trip specifically to watch the eclipse. The IG found the trip had a legitimate official purpose — Mnuchin was scheduled to attend meetings at the Fort Knox federal reserve — but noted concerns about the process and the optics of combining official travel with personal viewing of the solar eclipse. Linton's Instagram post — she tagged designer brands she was wearing and responded hostilely to a commenter — became a symbol of administration attitudes toward wealth and public service.
Overview
Mnuchin asked for a government plane for his honeymoon. The request was denied. He then used a government plane for an official trip to Kentucky that coincided with the total solar eclipse, which an IG investigation examined for whether personal viewing of the eclipse had influenced the scheduling. His wife tagged luxury designer brands while deplaning the government aircraft and responded hostilely when challenged.
The Honeymoon Request
The request was for a European trip — the honeymoon route to Scotland and other destinations would have cost roughly $25,000 on commercial aircraft. Mnuchin said he made the request for security reasons. The request was denied after it became public.
Security considerations for cabinet officers are legitimate. Government aircraft for a honeymoon is not a standard security accommodation.
The Kentucky Trip
On August 21, 2017 — the day of the total solar eclipse, with Fort Knox in the path of totality — Mnuchin flew to Kentucky on a government plane. The trip had an official purpose: meetings at the Federal Reserve Bank branch in Louisville. The IG investigated whether the scheduling was also influenced by Linton's interest in viewing the eclipse from the path of totality.
The IG found a legitimate official purpose existed. It noted concerns about the process. The trip proceeded. The eclipse was observed.
The Instagram Post
Linton posted a photo deplaning from the government aircraft in Kentucky. She tagged Hermès, Tom Ford, Roland Mouret, and other luxury designers visible in the photo. A commenter noted the optics of using taxpayer resources while wearing thousands of dollars in designer brands.
Linton's response was extensive. She questioned the commenter's tax contributions. She characterized her own and Mnuchin's contributions to the country. She tagged the comment as infuriating.
The post was widely shared. She deleted it. She apologized.
The Pattern
Mnuchin's jet requests were one episode in a broader cabinet travel pattern: Price resigned after $1 million in private jets, Pruitt billed $43,000 for a soundproof phone booth, Zinke used government helicopters for short trips. The pattern across agencies suggested that using government resources for personal comfort was normalized in a way that had not been visible in prior administrations.
Timeline
Sequence of events
August 21, 2017
Mnuchin uses government plane for Kentucky trip — solar eclipse day
Mnuchin flies to Kentucky on a government plane on the day of the total solar eclipse. Louise Linton is with him. The flight coincides with Fort Knox being in the path of totality. Treasury IG later investigates whether the trip's scheduling was influenced by personal interest in the eclipse.
August 21, 2017
Linton Instagram post goes viral — luxury brand tags, hostile response to commenter
Linton posts a photo from the Kentucky trip deplaning from the government aircraft, tagging luxury brands she is wearing. She responds hostilely to a commenter who notes the optics. The post is widely shared. Linton deletes it and later apologizes.
September 21, 2017
Honeymoon jet request reported — Mnuchin says he was unaware of cost
Reports emerge that Mnuchin had requested a government aircraft for his European honeymoon trip with Linton. The request was denied. Mnuchin says he made it for security reasons and was not aware of the equivalent commercial cost.
November 29, 2017
Treasury IG report on Kentucky trip — official purpose found, concerns noted
The Treasury IG releases its report on the Kentucky trip, finding that there was a legitimate official purpose — meetings at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland branch in Louisville — but noting concerns about process and the combination of official travel with personal activities.
Sources
- ↑ Mnuchin Requested Government Jet for Honeymoon With Wife Louise Linton — The New York Times
- ↑ Mnuchin requested government jet for honeymoon — request was denied — The Washington Post
- ↑ Treasury IG reviews Mnuchin's Kentucky trip on solar eclipse day — The Associated Press
Verification