Jackson Reid
There has been much controversy surrounding the use of taxpayer money to fund former US President Donald Trump's frequent golfing trips. Trump's penchant for golf has resulted in substantial costs for taxpayers, with estimates ranging from tens of millions to over $340 million during his presidency. The expenses include travel, accommodation, and security measures, with some funds going directly to Trump's businesses, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and abuse of power. Critics argue that Trump's golfing outings divert attention from his official duties and enrich himself through payments made by US agencies to his properties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| President | Donald Trump |
| Golf trips | 500+ |
| Cost to taxpayers | $26,127,531 |
| Cost per trip | $13.6 million |
| Golf resorts | Mar-a-Lago, Florida; Scotland |
| Golf courses | West Palm Beach; Miami Doral |
| Golf trips in first month | $10.7 million |
| Total cost of golf trips | Over $340 million |
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What You'll Learn
Taxpayers fund Trump's golf trips
US taxpayers have spent tens of millions of dollars on Donald Trump's golf trips. During his presidency, Trump has made numerous visits to his golf resorts, with the trips becoming a routine occurrence for those protecting him. Trump's frequent golf outings have raised concerns about the cost to taxpayers and the potential conflict of interest, as the trips involve payments to Trump's own businesses.
Trump's golf trips have involved significant travel expenses, including flights on Air Force One, cargo flights for the presidential motorcade, and helicopter rides. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) calculated that federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of four trips to Mar-a-Lago during his first term. Trump's businesses have also charged the US government for housing Secret Service agents and White House staff, with reports of overcharging by up to 300% beyond authorized rates.
Trump's frequent visits to his golf resorts have caused inconvenience to residents in the affected areas, with road closures and other disruptions. Palm Beach County, for example, expects reimbursement with federal funds for the costs incurred in protecting the president. Trump's trips have also drawn criticism for the message they send to foreign leaders and business executives, indicating that his properties are open for business.
The cost of Trump's golf trips stands in contrast to his campaign pledge not to have time to play golf as president. Trump has been criticised for spending a significant amount of his first term playing golf and for enriching himself through payments to his properties. The total cost of Trump's golf trips is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, with the potential to reach over $340 million if he were to serve two terms.
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Trump's golf trips cost millions
US taxpayers have paid tens of millions of dollars for former President Donald Trump's golf trips. During his presidency, Trump spent nearly one-third of his days at properties he owned, including his golf resorts in Florida.
Trump's frequent trips to his own properties cost taxpayer funds and directly benefited him. His businesses charged the US government to house Secret Service agents and other White House staff, often at rates far exceeding the authorized government hotel rates. According to a report by Democrats in Congress, the Trump Organization charged the Secret Service up to $1,815 per room per night at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC.
The cost of Trump's golf trips to US taxpayers is estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) calculated that federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of four trips Trump took to Mar-a-Lago during his first term. This included the cost of flying Air Force One, cargo jets, and motorcades. 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, when he visited his golf courses 328 times.
In addition to the direct costs, local law enforcement agencies in Palm Beach County incurred approximately $240,000 in overtime per day to assist the Secret Service in protecting Trump. The county has requested reimbursement from Congress for these costs, which have totaled $45 million as of March 2025.
Trump's golf trips have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the blurring of ethical lines, as he has maintained ownership of his businesses while serving as president. Critics argue that his frequent visits to his own properties take the focus away from his official duties and prioritize private business interests.
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Trump's businesses benefit from golf trips
During his presidency, Donald Trump has been criticised for his frequent golf trips, which have reportedly cost US taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Trump's trips to his golf resorts have been described as "unnecessary and wasteful", with critics arguing that the president is using his position to enrich himself and benefit his businesses.
Trump's golf trips have involved significant travel expenses, including flights to and from Palm Beach International Airport and the use of the presidential jet, Air Force One. The high costs of these trips are further exacerbated by the need for additional security measures, such as the use of the Marine One helicopter and a cargo flight for the presidential motorcade.
One of Trump's frequent destinations is his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, which he has visited numerous times since his inauguration. During his first term, Trump's properties were found to have overcharged the Secret Service by up to 300% beyond authorised government hotel rates. For example, the Trump Organization charged the Secret Service $1,815 per night for rooms at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC, exceeding rates charged to other prestigious guests.
Trump's businesses have also received payments from foreign governments and lobbyists, with reports indicating that his companies earned $7.8 million from at least 20 foreign governments during his first term. Trump's frequent visits to his own properties have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the appearance of using the presidency to promote his businesses.
In addition to the financial costs, Trump's golf trips have also caused disruptions to local communities, particularly in Palm Beach County, where residents have experienced road closures and increased security measures. The county has incurred substantial expenses to protect the president, with the sheriff's department requesting additional funds to cover the costs of providing security for Trump's visits.
Overall, the frequent golf trips taken by President Trump have resulted in significant expenses for US taxpayers, with the funds ultimately benefiting Trump's businesses and personal interests. The pattern of these trips, along with the associated costs and disruptions, has drawn criticism from various quarters, including watchdog groups and members of Congress.
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Trump's golf trips compared to Obama's
During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump was a vocal critic of Barack Obama's golfing habits, tweeting about them at least 27 times. However, Trump's golf trips have cost US taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, with a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report calculating that federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of four trips to Mar-a-Lago during his first term. Trump's frequent trips to his Florida golf resorts have also imposed additional costs on local law enforcement, with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office incurring expenses of $240,000 per day for security and protection.
Trump's golf outings have also been scrutinized in the context of his work ethic. Critics have noted that he typically starts his workdays later than Obama. Data from the Washington Post, cited by MSNBC, indicates that Trump played 138% more golf than Obama during their first two years in office. By the end of May 2020, Trump had spent 266 days at his golf clubs, compared to Obama's 98 rounds of golf at the same point in his presidency. Trump Golf Count estimates that Obama played 306 rounds of golf during his eight years in office, while they predict Trump played 261 rounds during his first term.
In terms of the number of protected trips, the Trump family has taken significantly more than the Obama family. The Treasury Department's budget document revealed that the Obama family averaged 133.3 protected trips annually, whereas the Trump family averaged 1,625 trips per year. This spike can be partially attributed to Trump's adult children, Eric and Don Jr., who have travelled extensively to promote Trump-branded businesses. These trips have incurred substantial Secret Service costs, with a trip to Dubai costing over $200,000, and have contributed to "burnout" within the agency.
While it is challenging to find comparable cost estimates for Obama's golf trips, it is worth noting that Obama's golfing was often local and did not require plane travel, as pointed out by Noah Bookbinder, the president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).
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Trump's golf trips: a waste of taxpayer money
During his presidency, Donald Trump has been criticised for his frequent trips to golf resorts, which have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Notably, Trump's trips to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida have been a cause for concern, with federal agencies spending an average of $13.6 million on each of the four trips audited during his first term. Trump's frequent golf outings have raised questions about government spending and self-enrichment, as his businesses have charged the US government for housing Secret Service agents and other staff, with reports of overcharging by up to 300% beyond authorised hotel rates.
Trump's golf trips have also disrupted local communities, with Palm Beach County residents experiencing road closures and increased security measures. In 2024, a report revealed that taxpayers had footed a bill of over $1 million for a weekend golf trip by Trump to his resort in Scotland. This included spending by the Secret Service, rental car costs, and the State Department's expenses.
Trump's frequent visits to his own properties have raised ethical concerns, with accusations that he is using the presidency to enrich himself and his family. Reports indicate that Trump's businesses received millions of dollars from foreign governments and lobbyists during his first term, potentially violating the US Constitution's emoluments clause.
Trump's golf outings have also drawn criticism for their frequency, especially compared to his predecessor, Barack Obama, who Trump criticised for playing golf while in office. Trump's refusal to divest from his family business further complicates the matter, as it blurs the lines between official duties and promoting his business interests.
In conclusion, Donald Trump's golf trips have resulted in a significant waste of taxpayer money, with costs incurred by federal agencies, the Secret Service, and local communities. The frequent visits to his own resorts, coupled with accusations of overcharging and self-enrichment, have led to concerns about ethical conduct and the proper use of government resources.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, taxpayers pay for the president's golf trips. For example, US taxpayers spent $1 million on Donald Trump's weekend golf trip to his resort in Scotland in 2018.
Donald Trump has spent almost $11 million of taxpayer money on his golfing hobby since returning to office. In his first term, Trump spent $151.5 million on golf, and he is on pace to surpass that total in his second term.
Yes, previous US presidents such as Barack Obama and George W. Bush also enjoyed playing golf.
