Apparently, having your dad as the vice president comes with serious perks, like potentially taking a military-grade helicopter to your golf lessons. At least, that’s what JD Vance attempted to do, according to MS NOW. The outlet reported that Vance planned to use Marine Two for taking his son to a golf lesson at Joint Base Andrews. The trip was canceled due to weather issues, but Secret Service officials reportedly have numerous complaints about Vance and his use of military transportation for personal use.
No, Vance isn’t taking a chopper to grab some dinner at Butler King down the street. But, per reports, the Secret Service agents assigned to Vance and his family have expressed concerns about how and when he uses government-sanctioned travel for personal use. It seems to have become a habit for the vice president, and it’s one that makes for solid water cooler talk for his agents.
JD Vance is becoming known for his last minute Secret Service requests.
The golf lesson request reportedly came after Vance requested that Marine Two be used for his son’s golf lesson. Joint Base Andrews is in Maryland and a 34-minute drive from Washington, D.C. It’s not clear where Vance and his family were at the time of the request, but it’s also a wild thought for the VP to request a military chopper for what is a half-hour drive otherwise. Like, what?
MS NOW reported that Secret Service agents are annoyed with Vance’s use of government transportation for personal use and his requests. Unnamed Secret Service agents told MS NOW that past use of these kinds of modes of transportation were not common for personal use for vice presidents, let alone the children of past vice presidents.
Vance’s office said in a statement to the outlet, “The Vances are grateful to the men and women of the U.S. Secret Service who serve our country with distinction. While protecting a Vice President with a large policy portfolio and a young and growing family presents a unique challenge, agents of the Secret Service do so with excellence every day.”
Other politicians have used government transportation for personal reasons.
So apparently, the Secret Service is FURIOUS at JD Vance for using a military helicopter to fly his son to his fucking golf lesson. These people are ridiculous. Could you imagine if Kamala Harris did this?! pic.twitter.com/Wp885gN5J3
— Mike Nellis (@MikeNellis) July 15, 2026
Some Vance critics aren’t really surprised by his reported antics involving the helicopter for his son’s private golf lesson. And that could be because other politicians have pulled similar stunts when it comes to using government transportation that costs tens of thousands of dollars to operate.
Axios reported that, in December 2025, Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove from California accused Director of FBI Kash Patel of using a private FBI jet for personal use. They called on him to reimburse the U.S. government.
In a Reddit thread about Vance’s reported last minute requests for transportation for his children and himself and his wife, users pointed out the hypocrisy. Others commented that they didn’t see former Vice President Kamala Harris or Mike Pence do the same thing.
“The government can’t pay for your kids’ education. Too expensive. But we sure as hell will fund these specific children,” a user commented.
Another wrote, “How much did this cost? And we’re suuuuuuure we can’t afford free school lunches for children?”
Using military transportation can cost thousands of dollars.
The issue lies not only in the privilege and unprecedented personal use of government transportation, but also the cost that falls on taxpayers. According to The Hill, it costs between $16,700 and nearly $20,000 per hour to operate Marine One, the president’s helicopter. Air Force One, the president’s official plane, lands at $200,000 per hour. So taking a government-issued plane or chopper for a kid’s private golf lesson is, for many Americans, a slap in the face.
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