Donald Trump may soon find himself barred from entering El Paso, Texas, due to an outstanding debt of nearly $600,000 for services provided during a 2019 campaign rally, with the city having reportedly warned the former president that legal action and a possible ban are on the table if the debt remains unpaid.

Trump's unpaid debts to various U.S. cities for police and first responder services have accumulated, with El Paso being one of the most vocal in demanding payment and threatening the aforementioned ban, as the Daily Mail reports.

The city of El Paso invoiced Trump's campaign $569,204.63 for police and emergency services following a rally held on Feb. 11, 2019. Despite repeated requests, the bill remains unpaid, and the city has since added a late fee of $98,787.58 to the total amount.

El Paso Considers Legal Action Against Trump

El Paso taxpayers have been left to foot the bill for first responders who worked during Trump's rally. The city's frustration has grown, leading them to consider legal action to recover the funds. City officials have also warned Trump's campaign that he may be barred from entering El Paso if the debt remains unresolved.

Laura Cruz-Acosta, a representative of the city, confirmed that taxpayers have covered the cost of first responder services. "We’re on unprecedented territory by having to collect an outstanding invoice from a sitting president," said City Attorney Karla Nieman, highlighting the unique nature of the situation.

The former mayor of El Paso, Dee Margo, expressed his hope that Trump would eventually pay the debt, stating, "People that don’t pay their bills -- that’s a character integrity issue."

Trump’s Debt Practices Under Scrutiny

El Paso is not the only city facing unpaid bills from Trump's campaign events. Other cities across the country are also seeking payment for services provided during his rallies. For instance, Dorchester County in South Carolina claims Trump owes $26,071.22 for a 2019 event, while Coastal Carolina University is seeking $37,410 for services provided at a rally earlier that year.

In Billings, Montana, the city is still waiting for $45,900 from a 2018 Trump visit, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, is owed $42,380 for two separate rallies. Albuquerque, New Mexico, has reported a debt of $211,175, which has been sent to a collection agency in an effort to recover the funds.

Despite these outstanding debts, Trump's campaign has often ignored payment requests or issued statements deflecting responsibility.

The campaign's standard response is that local law enforcement coordination is the responsibility of the U.S. Secret Service, not the campaign itself. However, the Secret Service has clarified that political campaigns are indeed responsible for these payments.

Minneapolis’ Clash with Trump Over Rally Costs

Minneapolis, Minnesota, faced a similar situation when it billed Trump $530,000 for services provided during a campaign event. Trump responded by accusing the city’s mayor of trying to suppress free speech, refusing to pay the bill. The Target Center, where the event was held, ultimately paid $100,000, but the rest of the bill remains unpaid.

Trump's reluctance to pay for services has led some cities, like Nashville, to require pre-payment before hosting his events. This precautionary measure highlights the widespread concern among local governments about the financial impact of hosting Trump rallies.

Debt Accumulation: A Trump Strategy?

Trump has a history of negotiating down debts, often citing economic conditions or financial strategy as reasons for not paying the full amounts owed. In a 2016 CBS interview, Trump declared, "I’m the king of debt. I’m great with debt. Nobody knows debt better than me."

This approach has extended to his political campaigns, where Trump's team has repeatedly disputed the amounts owed or refused to pay altogether.

Brad Parscale, Trump’s campaign manager at the time, insisted, "Consistent with our original agreement with the venue, the Trump campaign has not agreed to pay any additional funds."

Conclusion

The ongoing disputes between Trump and various cities across the U.S. over unpaid debts for police and first responder services continue to escalate.

El Paso’s potential legal action and the threat of banning Trump from the city underscore the seriousness of the situation.

With millions of dollars in unpaid bills still unresolved, the financial fallout from Trump's rallies remains a contentious issue for local governments and taxpayers alike.