Report: VP JD Vance Sought Marine Two For Son’s Golf Lesson, Prompting Secret Service Frustration

Vice President JD Vance last week reportedly asked to use a military helicopter — the presidential helicopter call sign Marine Two when the vice president is aboard — to ferry himself and his son across Washington for a golf lesson, according to reporting by MS Now. The proposed trip was ultimately canceled because of poor weather, but the request reportedly left members of his Secret Service protective detail upset.

MS Now said the request was one of several last-minute, unusual travel orders described internally as "off the record" (OTR) movements. Sources told the outlet that repeated OTRs and short-notice planning have contributed to frustration and low morale within the detail.

Vice President JD Vance reportedly angered his security detail last week by seeking to use a military helicopter to take his son to a golf lesson (Getty)

"The detail is tired of them not giving notice on things and making everything an OTR [off the record]," a source told MS Now. "He [Vance] thinks he can still move around like a U.S. senator."

Former vice presidents have often had Secret Service agents drive children to local activities rather than deploying military aircraft, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars per hour to operate, critics note. The Independent reported it contacted both the vice president's office and the Secret Service seeking comment.

Separate Scrutiny For FBI Director Kash Patel

The MS Now report also described an unrelated episode involving FBI Director Kash Patel, who allegedly canceled a planned trip to Chicago to see his musician partner after White House officials summoned him back to Washington. The outlet quoted a source saying Patel's plane was on the tarmac when he was called back.

Secret Service agents are reportedly 'fed up' with the Vance family's last-minute travel requests (Reuters)

"Patel was coming (to Chicago) today for a fake office visit for his girlfriend's country concert this weekend," a source briefed on the trip told MS Now.

The report said some Trump administration officials have grown "disturbed" by Patel's recent travel decisions amid renewed tensions with Iran and reported concerns about potential plots. Patel has denied the reporting as "false," and an FBI spokesperson previously said Patel "reimbursed ALL personal travel and expenses, strictly following the Office of Management and Budget rules" and is "fully compliant."

Democrats in the House and Senate are investigating whether Patel misused taxpayer funds for departmental purchases and recreational travel. In a July 8 letter, Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Dick Durbin alleged the director requested travel "perks" on international trips, including VIP snorkeling in Hawaii, jet skiing and use of a helicopter for FBI business. The FBI has called those allegations "completely false."

The Secret Service has struggled with chronic understaffing, including at the 2024 campaign rally where a gunman tried to kill Donald Trump (AFP/Getty)

Secret Service Staffing Concerns

The episode comes as the Secret Service continues to contend with staffing shortages and heavy workloads. An inspector general report released this month found the agency was more than 20% understaffed in 2024, the year a gunman attempted to kill former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally. That understaffing has been cited internally as adding strain when officers must handle unexpected or logistically complex movements.

As reporting develops, officials from the vice president's office, the Secret Service and the FBI have been contacted for comment; some statements have denied the allegations and emphasized compliance with reimbursement rules.