With the most recent incident involving Ivanka Trump’s security detail and a man in Miami, the discussion on whether the move was justified is still ongoing. Today, we’re breaking down the entire incident as well as the cost of protecting the president’s daughter.
Ivanka Trump’s Security Detail Shoves Man in Miami
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were caught in a tense moment Saturday night when their security guard shoved a man who got too close as they left Carbone Beach during the Formula 1 weekend in Miami.
In a now-viral video, the man approached the couple while carrying a folder. A security agent initially pushed him back, but after the man swatted the guard’s hand, the agent responded with a firm shove that drew gasps from onlookers. Ivanka and Jared briefly looked back before continuing to their car.
Ivanka, wearing a gold halter gown, and Jared, in a velvet jacket, drew attention to their style and the incident. The video sparked mixed reactions online, with many defending the guard’s actions as necessary for high-profile security.
Some viewers also pointed out Ivanka’s own physical capability, referencing her recent jiu-jitsu training. Still, given her public profile, few were surprised that her security team reacted decisively.
You can see the full video of Ivanka Trump’s security detail shoving the man here.
The Cost of Ivanka Trump’s Protection
As a senior White House advisor, Ivanka Trump and her immediate family are entitled to full Secret Service protection. This includes agents’ salaries, travel expenses, lodging, and equipment.
Annual cost estimates for the protection of individual Trump family members during the administration varied, but a 2020 Washington Post report found that Secret Service protection for Ivanka and Jared in 2019 alone cost taxpayers over $1 million, including:
- $566,000 for travel (international and domestic)
- $95,000 for car rentals
- $30,000+ in hotel stays
- $8,500 for ski trips to Aspen
Six Months of Extra Secret Service Protection
After leaving office, Donald Trump quietly ordered six extra months of Secret Service protection for his adult children and three former officials, including Steven Mnuchin, costing taxpayers over $1.7 million, according to government records.
Mnuchin, a wealthy former Treasury Secretary, took business trips to Israel, Qatar, and Cabo San Lucas, with U.S. agents tagging along. Taxpayers covered $479,000 in expenses, including $11,000 at a luxury Doha hotel and $114,000 for rooms near his LA home.
Though Mnuchin claimed he hadn’t requested the extra security, he kept it, citing government advice. His spokesperson said he planned to reimburse “certain expenses,” but gave no specifics.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s protection cost about $347,000 and included trips to Hawaii, Utah, and the UAE. Trump’s adult sons, Eric and Don Jr., cost around $240,000 each, with trips to Florida, Montana, and Trump hotels, which billed the government for agents’ rooms.
Critics, including ethics watchdogs, called the extended protection a misuse of public funds, especially as Trump’s family profited by charging the government for accommodations at their own properties. Trump himself has charged over $72,000 in room fees since leaving office.
Ivanka Trump’s Highly Secure Residence
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner reside in a $24 million mansion on Indian Creek, a private island near Miami Beach known as the “Billionaire’s Bunker.” The ultra-exclusive enclave features only 41 waterfront estates and is heavily secured, accessible only through guarded checkpoints. High-profile neighbours include Jeff Bezos, Tom Brady, Gisele Bündchen, and the Obamas.
Neighborhood Tensions
While serving as senior advisers in Washington, D.C., the couple lived in the exclusive Kalorama neighborhood, also home to the Obamas. Their security detail became a subject of controversy following a Washington Post report alleging that Secret Service agents were not allowed to use the couple’s six-and-a-half bathrooms.
The article cited neighbors and anonymous law enforcement sources who claimed agents had to seek alternative facilities—including at the Obamas’ garage, Vice President Mike Pence’s residence, and local restaurants—because, as one source told the Post, “the agents were kept out at the family’s request.”
Several hours later, the Secret Service issued a rare response, stating that agents do not typically request access to bathrooms in private homes and that the Kushners had not denied access. The White House also denied the report, calling it a “false narrative” and reaffirming the couple’s respect for the agents protecting them.
To resolve the issue, the agency began renting an 820-square-foot basement apartment near the Kushners’ home for $3,000 a month in September 2017, providing a secure, off-site space for agents to rest and regroup. Neighbors confirmed the space has been used discreetly and respectfully, supporting the demanding nature of the security detail.
