First Lady Jill Biden’s recent travel arrangements have sparked considerable discussion due to their high cost to American taxpayers. The First Lady had to navigate a challenging schedule to support her stepson, Hunter Biden, during his trial in Wilmington, Delaware, while also participating in official ceremonies in France. This complicated itinerary has led to a potential cost of $345,000, with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) covering only a small portion of the expenses.

The sequence of events began with Jill Biden attending Hunter Biden’s trial. Simultaneously, President Joe Biden was in Normandy, France, commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day. To fulfill her duties in both locations, the First Lady embarked on a series of flights that raised eyebrows for their logistical complexity and financial implications.

On Tuesday, Jill Biden flew from Joint Base Andrews to Wilmington. Later that evening, she boarded a government plane to Paris for the D-Day ceremonies. After spending a full day in Normandy, she returned to Wilmington on another government plane for Friday’s courtroom proceedings. Once the trial events were completed, she flew back to Paris for an official state visit with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron. Finally, she returned home from France with the president aboard Air Force One on Sunday.

According to the Air Force, the cost for a Boeing C-32, a smaller aircraft often used when the First Lady flies alone, is $13,816 per hour. Given the duration and frequency of these flights, each leg of Jill Biden’s trip potentially cost upwards of $110,500. This calculation brings the total estimated cost to around $345,000. While the DNC has pledged to reimburse some of these expenses, the exact amount remains unspecified.

The First Lady’s office emphasized that these travel arrangements comply with regulations that have been utilized across various administrations.

Updated: The DNC has said that they will cover the “first-class travel expenses of the First Lady.”