Harper Lin
Former US President Barack Obama's golfing trips have been a topic of interest for many, especially in light of the criticism he faced from his successor, Donald Trump. Obama's golfing habits were scrutinized, with Trump tweeting about them even before he took office. Obama played 333 rounds of golf during his eight years as president, averaging once every 8.77 days. The cost of these trips, along with other personal travel, totaled $85 million during his tenure, according to Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group. This amount is likely to be higher when considering additional records and expenses. While Trump criticized Obama's golfing, his own golf outings have been more frequent and costly, with a bigger carbon footprint due to extensive air travel. Trump's trips to his golf properties have incurred significant expenses for taxpayers, with estimates suggesting a total cost of over $340 million if he serves two terms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost of golfing trips | $85 million |
| Number of golf trips | 98 rounds of golf |
| Comparison with Trump | Trump has spent more time golfing |
| Golfing habits | Liked to do business on the course |
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What You'll Learn
Obama's golf trips cost taxpayers $85 million
Barack Obama's golfing trips have cost taxpayers $85 million, according to estimates. This figure includes the cost of the former president's annual trips to Hawaii with his extended family, which amounted to $3.5 million per trip. Obama played golf more than 300 times during his presidency, and was known to conduct business on the course with high-profile figures, including CEOs and political leaders.
While Obama's golfing trips were costly, his successor, Donald Trump, has spent even more on golf outings. Trump's golfing has cost taxpayers $102 million, which is $12.7 million more than Obama's travel expenses during his entire presidency. Trump's frequent trips to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and other golf properties have raised concerns about conflicts of interest and excessive spending.
Trump has been criticized for his frequent golf outings, especially given his campaign promises not to play golf if elected. His golf trips have disrupted local communities and incurred additional costs for security and travel. Trump has also been accused of enriching himself through payments made by US agencies to his properties during these trips.
In comparison, Obama's golfing trips were less frequent and had a lower overall cost to taxpayers. However, both presidents have been scrutinized for their golfing habits while in office.
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Trump criticised Obama for golfing
During his 2016 election campaign, Donald Trump criticised Barack Obama for golfing. Trump's comments continued the criticism he had previously lobbed as a private citizen, when he frequently tweeted about Obama's golfing. Trump's own golf outings have been a regular target since his term began.
According to an analysis from HuffPost, Trump's golf outings have cost US taxpayers at least $102 million. This is only $12.7 million less than what Obama and his family spent on travel during his eight years in office. Obama's eight years of golf and Hawaii vacations cost taxpayers $85 million, with this figure likely to climb to $90 million after additional records are released.
Trump's golf trips have also caused disruptions to local residents. For example, his frequent trips to his waterfront mansion in Florida have resulted in road closures, flight restrictions, and additional security measures, imposing costs on local law enforcement and inconveniencing the public. Trump has also been accused of overcharging the Secret Service to stay at his properties and profiting from the payments made by agents for security at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
Trump's focus on Obama's golfing habits during his presidency and his own significant spending on golf outings highlight a disconnect between his campaign statements and his conduct while in office. Trump's golfing has drawn attention to the ethics and costs associated with presidential travel and leisure activities.
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Trump's golf trips cost taxpayers $102 million
According to a 2019 report by HuffPost, US taxpayers have paid at least $102 million to cover security and travel expenses for President Donald Trump's golf trips during his almost two and a half years in office. This amount is just $12.7 million less than what Barack Obama and his family spent on travel during his eight-year presidency.
Trump's golf outings have been a regular target for criticism since his term began. During his 2016 campaign, Trump frequently criticised Obama for golfing while in office. However, Trump has golfed with several high-profile figures since becoming president, including Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and Senators Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham. Trump has also spent 187 days at golf properties, such as Trump National Bedminster in New Jersey.
The cost of Trump's golf trips has been exacerbated by ethics breaches within his administration. Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt spent $124,000 of taxpayer money on first- and business-class travel, while former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke violated agency travel policy by having his wife travel in government vehicles. Trump has also been accused of overcharging the Secret Service to stay at his properties, including his resort in Scotland, where a two-day stopover cost taxpayers more than $1.1 million.
Trump's frequent trips to his waterfront mansion in Florida have also become a drain on county resources, requiring helicopters, extra manpower, and boats for security. The total cost of Trump's golf trips is estimated to be even higher, with some sources claiming it could exceed $340 million if he were to serve a full eight years in office.
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Trump's trips to Mar-a-Lago cost taxpayers millions
During his presidency, Donald Trump's golf outings and trips to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. In 2019, a Government Accountability Office report found that federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of four of Trump's trips to Mar-a-Lago during his first term in office, with some of that money going directly into Trump's pocket.
Trump's frequent visits to Mar-a-Lago, which he has dubbed the "Winter White House", have raised concerns about national security, profiteering, influence peddling, and transparency. His trips have also disrupted local communities, with Palm Beach County residents enduring road closures, flight restrictions, and other inconveniences while footing the bill for protection.
The cost of Trump's travel has exacerbated ethics breaches within his administration. Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt spent $124,000 of taxpayer money on first- and business-class travel, and former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke violated agency travel policy by having his wife travel in government vehicles.
By April 2018, the local sheriff's office in Palm Beach County had accrued $3.3 million in overtime for Trump's protection, reimbursed by the federal government. Trump's golf trips since his inauguration have likely cost taxpayers more than $18 million, according to a March 2025 analysis by HuffPost. This estimate is based on data from a 2019 Government Accountability Office report, which calculated the cost of Trump's early trips to Mar-a-Lago at an average of $3.4 million per trip.
In contrast, former President Barack Obama and his family spent $85 million on travel during his eight years in office, according to estimates by the conservative group Judicial Watch. Trump's golf outings and travel expenses during his first two and a half years in office totalled $102 million, just $12.7 million less than Obama's eight-year total.
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Obama played golf more than 300 times
During his eight-year presidency, Barack Obama played golf more than 300 times, totalling 333 rounds of golf, according to CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller. This averages out to about 41 rounds per year. Obama faced criticism from Donald Trump, who, during his presidential campaign, frequently tweeted about Obama's golfing and stated that "Obama ought to get off the golf course". Trump also said that Obama had "played more golf than most people on the PGA tour".
While the exact costs of Obama's golfing trips are unknown, it has been estimated that the expenses associated with his golf outings and personal travel during his presidency cost taxpayers around $85 million. This figure is expected to climb to $90 million after additional records are released, according to the conservative group Judicial Watch.
In comparison, Trump's golfing habits have been estimated to have cost taxpayers $102 million, only $12.7 million more than Obama's travel expenses during his entire presidency. Trump's frequent golf outings have been a target of criticism, with reports highlighting the significant costs incurred during his trips, including security and travel expenses. Trump has been known to golf with various figures, including politicians and business leaders, and has been criticised for conducting business on the golf course, blurring the lines between leisure and official duties.
It is worth noting that the discussion around presidential golf extends beyond the number of rounds played or the associated costs. Golf has historically been a pastime for presidents, but it has also served as a venue for conducting business and building political relationships. In the case of Obama, golfing with Republican lawmakers like John Boehner and Saxby Chambliss raised eyebrows among Senate Democrats.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the US taxpayers paid for former President Barack Obama's golfing trips.
Obama's golfing and travel cost taxpayers \$85 million during his eight years in office.
Yes, Obama played golf more than 300 times during his presidency.
No, Trump has spent more time golfing and has also spent more taxpayer money on golfing trips than Obama.
Yes, Obama often flew to Hawaii for his vacations, where he played golf.
