How much will it cost the US taxpayer to protect Trump and his family?

With Melania Trump deciding to stay in the Trump Tower in Manhattan with her 10-year-old son Barron, the US taxpayer is now concerned how much will be spent on their security. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday said that he would ask the Federal government to pay part of the cost for the ongoing protection detail by the New York Police Department for Donald Trump and his family.

His statement came before the Trumps announced that Melania and Barron will not be staying at the White House. 

If the cost of protecting the current first family is anything to go by, protecting Trump and his family can go north of $1.4 billion a year, which is what Barack Obama's security and staffing costs. 

Currently, in New York, there are 50 additional officers on each shift during the day to regulate traffic near the Trump Tower. More officers could be added, if needed, said de Blasio. He also said that while their imperative was Trump's safety, there are concerns over the overtime costs that is to be paid to the NYPD officers. 

"This is a very substantial undertaking. It will take substantial resources, and we will begin the conversation with the federal government shortly on reimbursement for the NYPD for some of the costs that we are incurring," de Blasio told reporters. "We are particularly concerned about overtime costs, and we think it's a very valid situation to turn to the federal government for the maximum possible reimbursement for those costs."

Apart from the NYPD, if Melania and Barron live in New York, they will be given Secret Service protection along with Donald. The agents will also be conducting security sweeps at Barron's school every day. 

The Secret Service is also liable to pay for travel for agents when they are with a protectee. While Donald will be using the Air Force One or Two, his immediate family — which is large and can use their private jets — is also going to get protection. So, the Secret Service may well end up paying the president for protecting his family. 

Donald Trump had received 24/7 Secret Service protection in early November. The agency has already paid $2.74 million of taxpayer money to Trump when he flew agents around during his campaign trail, according to the Federal Election Commission. Trump has already made money by running for president, how much more he can make will never be disclosed, since the secret service budget, which includes the protection of the president and his family, is not made public.

"It's very possible that I could be the first presidential candidate to run and make money on it," Trump had told the Fortune magazine in 2000 when he was considering running for president. How true that will be is yet to be seen.