Beshear budgeted $40K for his Europe trip. Some Republicans say that’s too much
Gov. Andy Beshear budgeted $40,000 for his economic development trip to Europe last month — and some Kentucky Republicans are criticizing his international travel expenses for the second year in a row.
Beshear traveled to Davos, Switzerland, to participate in the World Economic Forum, which is a high-profile, invitation-only conference for world leaders and business executives. He also made stops in Finland and Sweden along the way.
In defense of the trip, Beshear’s office says his travels could bring more jobs to and support economic development in Kentucky. Republicans, however, say it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars and was a move to build Beshear’s national image ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run.
During his mid-January trip, Beshear met with multiple business leaders and companies in addition to speaking during two sessions at the forum, included a panel with other U.S. governors, Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Beshear was joined by First Lady Britainy Beshear, Deputy Chief of Staff Coulter Minix, Cabinet for Economic Development Secretary Jeff Noel and spokesperson Scottie Ellis, according to the records obtained by the Herald-Leader through the Kentucky Open Records Act.
Flights for five people cost about $28,000, and the hotel rooms were around $9,000. There were also other miscellaneous expenses, including a $500 registration fee and $200 for airport parking.
While Andy and Britainy Beshear, Minix and Ellis traveled between Jan. 16 through Jan. 23, Noel traveled between Jan. 15 through Jan. 21.
The travel destinations between Jan. 16 through Jan. 20 were Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden, and the travel destination from Jan. 20 through Jan. 23 was Davos, Switzerland.
All attendees flew on Delta Airlines, and spent five nights in hotels.
Ellis said in a statement that Beshear met with 260 business leaders, 16 companies with existing Kentucky facilities and eight prospective companies with projects that include nearly 650 proposed jobs.
Those meetings will result in new job announcements in the coming months, according to the governor’s office.
“Every previous Kentucky governor — and every governor across the U.S. — has conducted trade missions,” Ellis said. “While we aren’t surprised that Republican leadership takes issue with Gov. Beshear’s travel as they continue to play political games, we are surprised they’d do it at the risk of costing Kentuckians good-paying jobs.”
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said to reporters Monday that previous governors have gone overseas to promote Kentucky, and the cost for Beshear’s trip is “the norm.”
“Now, if he did some things related to campaigning, I think he should look at that and be somewhat responsive and sensitive the fact that maybe his campaign should reimburse the state for part of those expenses,” Stivers said. “But I think it’s very appropriate for governors to go out, any governor, Republican or Democrat, to do recruitment and promote our state, and we’ve done it for my whole history.”
When asked if there was appetite in the Senate Republican Caucus for Roberts’ bill, Stivers said there probably is some support, “you have to be careful in what you’re doing.”
“There are times in which a governor needs to travel that there won’t be an immediate notice or the ability to do that, and that would apply again to a Republican or Democrat. You have to think about the process,” Stivers said
Beshear’s appearance at the conference is notable as his name has been floated as a potential Democratic contender for president in 2028. Since winning reelection in 2023, Beshear has worked to build up his profile by traveling to out-of-state fundraisers, making consistent appearances in national media and becoming chair of the Democratic Governors Association.
During the conference, Beshear was critical of President Donald Trump’s actions regarding Greenland, calling the situation “dumb as hell,” and saying it “is so damaging, so concerning, and this is not who we are.”
This hasn’t gone unnoticed by Republicans.
State Rep. TJ Roberts, R-Burlington, posted on X copies of Beshear’s travel records and said Beshear spent “over $40,000 of your hard-earned tax dollars on personal travel to boost his presidential ambitions.”
“Beshear isn’t focused on the financial struggles of Kentucky families, he’s focused on running for president,” Roberts said in the post. “He’s too busy jet-setting on the taxpayers’ tab, rubbing elbows with the rich and powerful. This isn’t leadership; it’s political self-indulgence.”
Beshear received similar criticism last year for the 2025 Davos trip, where his office had a budget of around $81,000.
In response, Roberts filed multiple bills aimed at the governor’s powers, including one that would require approval from the state treasurer for the governor to travel out of state using tax dollars.
He filed the same bill again this year, House Bill 86, which has been assigned to the House State Government Committee but not yet received a hearing. Four other Republican lawmakers have signed on as co-sponsors.
