Jackson Reid
While previous US presidents like Barack Obama and George W. Bush have been known to enjoy a round of golf, the discussion surrounding presidential golf has largely centred on Donald Trump's frequent trips to his golf clubs and resorts. Trump's golf outings have been the subject of scrutiny due to the associated costs borne by taxpayers and potential conflicts of interest arising from his continued ownership of golf properties. Trump's frequent visits to his own golf courses and resorts have raised ethical concerns, with critics arguing that he is enriching himself through payments made by US agencies to his businesses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Presidents who played golf | Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Donald Trump |
| Presidents who criticized others for playing golf | Donald Trump |
| Presidents who criticized others for playing golf and then played golf themselves | Donald Trump |
| Presidents who profited from golf trips | Donald Trump |
| Presidents who did not divest from golf businesses | Donald Trump |
| Presidents who were criticized for profiting from golf trips | Donald Trump |
| Presidents who were sued for profiting from golf trips | Donald Trump |
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What You'll Learn
Taxpayers fund Trump's golf trips
While Trump was campaigning to be president, he frequently criticised former president Barack Obama for playing golf, stating that he would be too busy to play himself. However, Trump has spent a significant portion of his presidency golfing at his own resorts, with his trips costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
Trump's frequent trips to his golf clubs send a message to foreign leaders, business executives, lobbyists, and Republicans in Congress that his properties are open for business. During his first term, Trump's businesses received $7.8 million from at least 20 foreign governments, according to a report by congressional Democrats.
Trump's refusal to divest from his family business means that his frequent golf outings go beyond questionable government spending. The president is enriching himself through payments that US agencies make to his properties, including Mar-a-Lago. A 2019 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) calculated that federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of four Trump trips to Mar-a-Lago during his first term, with a chunk of that money going straight into Trump's pocket.
In addition to the cost of travel and security, Trump's golf trips also disrupt local communities. Palm Beach County, where Mar-a-Lago is located, has to deal with road closures, flight restrictions, and increased security costs. Trump's trips also impact the Secret Service, who have reported being overcharged by Trump's properties, sometimes by as much as 300% beyond authorised government hotel rates.
The total cost of Trump's golf trips is difficult to calculate, but it is estimated that his visits so far have cost between $105 to $108 million. If Trump were to be re-elected and continued his current pace of golf trips, the total cost over eight years could exceed $340 million.
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Trump's golf trips cost millions
Although it is unclear whether or not presidents pay to golf, one thing is certain: former US President Donald Trump's golf trips have cost American taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
Trump's frequent trips to his own golf resorts and properties have raised concerns among critics, who argue that these visits are costly for the public and blur ethical lines. During his first term in office, Trump spent nearly one-third of his days at properties he owned, including his golf resorts in Florida and Scotland. These trips involved significant expenses, such as flying Air Force One and additional cargo planes to transport the presidential motorcade.
According to reports, each visit to and from Palm Beach International Airport costs taxpayers about a million dollars. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) calculated that federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of four trips Trump made to Mar-a-Lago during his first term. This included the cost of air travel and motorcades, as well as local law enforcement overtime expenses of approximately $240,000 per day.
Trump has also been accused of overcharging the Secret Service for their accommodations during his first term. His properties charged the Secret Service up to $1,815 per room per night, significantly more than the authorized government hotel rates. The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) estimated that the Secret Service paid nearly $2 million to Trump-owned properties during his first term.
In total, Trump's golf outings and frequent visits to his own properties have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, even as he criticized his predecessor, Barack Obama, for playing golf during his presidency. While Trump pledged during his campaign that he "wouldn't have much time to hit the greens," he has spent a significant portion of his first term golfing and vacationing at his own resorts.
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Trump's golf trips: a conflict of interest?
While Trump's golf trips may be enjoyable for him, they are certainly not so for the US taxpayer, who has had to foot the bill for the former president's jaunts to the golf course. Trump's frequent trips to his golf clubs and resorts have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, with federal agencies spending an estimated average of $13.6 million on each of four trips to Mar-a-Lago during his first term in office, according to a 2019 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Trump's trips to his golf resorts in Florida have also resulted in significant costs for Palm Beach County, with the county sheriff, Ric Bradshaw, requesting a $45 million in additional funds to provide security for Trump's visits through 2022.
Trump's golf trips have also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged that he wouldn't have time to play golf, stating, "I'm going to be working for you... I'm not going to have time to go play golf." However, Trump ended up spending far more time on the golf course during his first term than his predecessor, Barack Obama, whom he had criticized for playing golf while in office.
The issue of conflict of interest goes beyond the number of golf trips Trump takes. As Trump maintained ownership of his businesses while in office, the payments made by federal agencies to Trump's properties during his presidency went directly into his pocket. This includes charges for Secret Service agents and other White House staff to stay at Trump-owned hotels and resorts, with reports indicating that the Trump Organization charged the Secret Service up to $1,815 per room per night, significantly more than the authorized government hotel rates.
Trump's frequent visits to his own properties have also been seen as a form of self-dealing and profiteering, raising questions about whether his decision-making as president was motivated by his personal financial interests rather than the national interest. His presence at his resorts and golf courses also sends a message to foreign leaders, business executives, lobbyists, and others seeking to influence his administration that his properties are "open for business."
In conclusion, Trump's golf trips during his presidency can be seen as a conflict of interest. While all presidents may take some time for leisure activities, Trump's frequent golf outings to his own properties resulted in significant costs to taxpayers and raised concerns about his commitment to his presidential duties and potential enrichment of his personal businesses.
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Trump's frequent golf trips: a waste of taxpayer money?
During his presidency, Donald Trump has been criticised for his frequent golf trips, with some arguing that these excursions waste taxpayer money. While it is common for presidents to play golf, Trump's trips have been characterised as particularly costly and disruptive.
Trump's golf outings often involve travel to his own resorts, such as Mar-a-Lago in Florida, which he has visited numerous times since his inauguration. The cost of these trips to taxpayers is significant. Each flight to and from Palm Beach International Airport is estimated to cost around $1 million, including the transportation of the presidential motorcade and the use of the Marine One helicopter. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of four trips to Mar-a-Lago during Trump's first term.
Trump's trips to his resorts in Scotland have also drawn scrutiny. In 2018, a report revealed that the total cost to taxpayers for a two-day stopover at Trump Turnberry exceeded $1 million. This included spending by the Secret Service and the State Department, with the latter spending more than $230,000 to support the trip.
Beyond the direct travel costs, there are additional financial considerations. Trump has been accused of using the presidency to enrich himself and his family. His businesses have charged the US government exorbitant rates to house Secret Service agents and other staff, with room rates exceeding authorised government hotel rates. Furthermore, Trump's frequent visits to his own properties send a message to foreign leaders and business executives that his properties are open for business. During his first term, Trump's businesses received millions of dollars from foreign governments and lobbyists, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
In conclusion, Trump's frequent golf trips have resulted in substantial costs to taxpayers, with critics arguing that these outings are wasteful and benefit Trump's personal interests. While presidents are expected to have leisure time, the extent of Trump's golf excursions and the associated financial implications have sparked concerns about the misuse of taxpayer funds and the potential blurring of presidential duties with personal business endeavours.
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Trump's golf trips: the ethics
Donald Trump's frequent golf trips have raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding the cost to taxpayers and potential conflicts of interest. Trump's refusal to divest from his business holdings, including his golf courses, has resulted in accusations of self-enrichment and violations of the US Constitution's Emoluments Clause.
Trump's golf outings have cost US taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Each visit to his Palm Beach resort in Florida incurs substantial travel expenses, with a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report calculating an average cost of $13.6 million for each of the four trips it audited during his first term. This includes the use of Air Force One and a separate cargo plane for the presidential motorcade. The high cost of these trips has prompted criticism, especially as Trump had pledged during his campaign that he would not have time to play golf if elected.
Trump's frequent visits to his own golf resorts also raise ethical concerns due to potential conflicts of interest. By continuing to own and profit from these businesses, Trump blurs the line between his presidential duties and personal financial interests. This was highlighted by Robert Weissman, co-president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, who stated that visiting one's own business property as president "moves the focus, at least potentially, from your official duties to promoting and attending to your business." Trump's businesses have received payments from foreign governments and lobbyists, with reports of overcharging the Secret Service for their stays. These practices led to legal challenges, with at least three lawsuits filed claiming violations of the Emoluments Clause.
Trump's golf trips have also disrupted local communities, particularly in Palm Beach County, Florida. The frequent visits have resulted in road closures, flight restrictions, and increased security costs for the county. The sheriff's department has had to incur additional expenses, including helicopters, manpower, and boats, to assist the Secret Service in protecting the president.
In conclusion, Trump's golf trips have raised ethical concerns due to their significant cost to taxpayers, potential conflicts of interest, and disruptive impact on local communities. The intertwining of his presidential duties with his business interests has led to accusations of self-enrichment and constitutional violations. These issues highlight the complex ethical dimensions of a president's recreational activities and their potential consequences for the public.
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Frequently asked questions
No, US presidents do not pay to golf. In fact, US taxpayers pay for President Donald Trump's golf trips, which cost millions of dollars.
Trump's golf trips are estimated to cost taxpayers over $340 million. Each of his first four trips to Mar-a-Lago during his first administration cost $3,383,250.
Trump has been on at least 193 golf outings, with at least 88 rounds of golf since he became President. He has likely played 139 rounds and has visited golf courses over 193 days.
There are legal and ethical concerns regarding foreign payments Trump may receive from his golf trips. Trump has been accused of violating the Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution by accepting money from foreign governments and lobbyists. His businesses received $7.8 million from at least 20 foreign governments during his first administration.
