Jackson Reid
Former US President Donald Trump's frequent golfing trips have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. While Trump criticised Barack Obama for golfing while in office, Trump's trips to his golf resorts have been far more costly to the American public. Trump's visits to his golf courses have incurred substantial travel and security expenses, with his businesses also benefiting directly by charging exorbitant fees to government agencies for their services. The total cost of Trump's golfing excursions during his presidency has been estimated to exceed $100 million, with some projections placing the figure even higher.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total cost of golfing trips during Trump's first term | $151.5 million |
| Cost of golfing trips during Trump's second term (as of March 2025) | $26,127,531 |
| Cost of a weekend golfing trip to Scotland in 2018 | $1 million |
| Cost of Trump's golfing trips (as of) 2019 | $102 million |
| Cost of Trump's golfing trips (as of 2019) | $105 million |
| Total estimated cost of Trump's golfing trips if he is re-elected | $340 million |
| Amount Trump's businesses charged the Secret Service per night | $1,815 |
| Cost of overtime per day for police protection | $240,000 |
| Amount approved by commissioners for security for Trump's visits through November | $45 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 first term in office, Trump visited golf courses on more than 500 occasions, with trips to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida being the most common.
Trump's trips to his golf courses are expensive, costing significantly more than Obama's golf trips. This is due to the use of Air Force One and the accompanying security arrangements. Trump's trips to his Florida resort have cost taxpayers about a million dollars each in travel expenses alone. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) calculated that federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of the four trips to Mar-a-Lago that it audited during his first term in office.
Trump's frequent trips to his Florida resort have also been a drain on county resources, with the Palm Beach County Sheriff, Ric Bradshaw, having to put helicopters in the air, extra manpower on the ground, and boats on both sides of Trump's mansion. The daily overtime bill for the sheriff's deputies has been reported to be $240,000, with commissioners approving an "urgent request" of $45 million to provide security for Trump's visits through November 2025.
Trump's golf trips have also incurred costs for the Secret Service, which provides protection for the president and his family. There have been concerns about Trump overcharging the Secret Service to stay at his properties, with payments made to Mar-a-Lago by agents providing security amounting to self-enrichment.
In addition to domestic trips, Trump's golf trips have also included international destinations. A 2018 trip to his resort in Scotland cost taxpayers more than $1 million, with the Secret Service spending over $950,000 on rental car costs and other expenses.
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Trump's businesses profit from golf trips
During his presidency, Donald Trump's frequent trips to golf clubs have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, with the total cost of his golfing during his first term estimated to be $151.5 million. Trump's golf trips have been a cause for concern for many, including Robert Weissman, co-president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, who pointed to evidence of Trump overcharging the Secret Service to stay at his properties.
Trump's businesses have profited from these golf trips, as they have charged the US government to house Secret Service agents and other White House staff. According to a report issued by Democrats in Congress, Trump's properties overcharged the Secret Service by as much as 300% beyond the authorized government hotel rates during his first term. The Trump Organization charged the Secret Service as much as $1,815 per room per night to stay at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC, which is significantly more than what was charged to rooms rented by the Qatari royal family and Chinese business interests.
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 which he visited his properties 547 times, including 145 trips to Mar-a-Lago and 328 visits to his various golf courses. Trump's businesses also received $7.8 million from at least 20 foreign governments during his first administration, according to a report issued by congressional Democrats.
Trump's frequent trips to his golf clubs also sent a message to foreign leaders, business executives, lobbyists, and Republicans in Congress that his properties were open for business. At Mar-a-Lago, business leaders were offered one-on-one meetings with Trump for $5 million, while others paid $1 million for a small-group candlelight dinner with the president.
In addition to the direct costs of Trump's golf trips, there are also indirect costs incurred by local law enforcement agencies responsible for protecting the president while he is in their jurisdiction. For example, the Palm Beach County Sheriff, Ric Bradshaw, has said that his department spends $240,000 per day to assist the Secret Service in protecting Trump, and he has requested $45 million in additional funds to provide security for Trump's visits through November 2024.
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Trump's golf trips cost more than Obama's
While Donald Trump criticised Barack Obama for golfing while in office, Trump's golf trips have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Trump's frequent trips to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida have been particularly costly, with each visit costing taxpayers about a million dollars in travel expenses alone.
Trump's golf trips have also incurred substantial security costs. In 2024, a report found that the Secret Service spent over $950,000 on rental car costs related to a presidential golf weekend in Scotland. In 2025, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office approved an "urgent request" of $45 million to provide security for Trump's visits through November, with the sheriff noting that the costs were expected to rise.
Trump's golf trips have also resulted in additional expenses for local communities. His trips to Florida have required the county to deploy helicopters, extra manpower, and boats, straining county resources.
In contrast, Obama's golf outings were mostly local and did not require extensive travel or security arrangements. According to an analysis by HuffPost, Trump's golf outings during his first two and a half years in office cost taxpayers $102 million, which was $12.7 million less than what Obama and his family spent on travel during his entire eight-year presidency.
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Trump's golf trips are a security concern
Trump's golf trips are a significant security concern, with the associated costs to taxpayers amounting to tens of millions of dollars. The frequent and disruptive trips to his golf courses in Florida have resulted in a substantial drain on county resources. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw is responsible for ensuring the President's safety, which includes putting helicopters in the air, extra manpower on the ground, and boats on both sides of Trump's mansion.
The Secret Service faces substantial demands to protect the President, his family, and entourage, and these costs are often passed on to taxpayers. Robert Weissman, co-president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, expressed concern over Trump overcharging the Secret Service to stay at his properties. This results in self-enrichment, with taxpayer money going directly into Trump's pocket.
The costs of Trump's golf trips are not limited to security and travel expenses. During his first term, federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of four trips to Mar-a-Lago, with Trump spending four out of the first seven weekends golfing in Florida. Trump's golf habit has continued into his second term, with reported costs of over $26 million in taxpayer-funded golf trips.
Trump's golf trips have also impacted local communities, with flight restrictions and increased security measures in place whenever he visits. His trips to his resort in Scotland in 2018 cost taxpayers over $1 million, including rental car costs of more than $466,000.
Trump's frequent golf outings and the associated costs have drawn criticism, especially compared to his criticism of Barack Obama's golfing while in office. The expenses incurred by taxpayers for Trump's golf trips, along with concerns about his playing style and potential cheating, have sparked debates about the appropriate use of government funds and the integrity of the President.
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Trump's golf trips are an ethics breach
Trump's golf trips have been a source of controversy, with critics arguing that they are an unethical use of taxpayer money and a conflict of interest. Since taking office, Trump has made numerous visits to his golf resorts, including Mar-a-Lago in Florida and his resort in Scotland. These trips have incurred significant costs, with reports estimating that Trump has spent over $26 million on golf trips during his second term as of March 2025, with a total cost of $151.5 million during his first term.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in 2019 that federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of four trips to Mar-a-Lago during Trump's first term, with some of that money going directly to Trump. The Secret Service has also faced criticism for allegedly overpaying to stay at Trump's properties, with Robert Weissman of Public Citizen pointing to "self-enrichment from the payments made to Mar-a-Lago by agents providing security."
Trump's frequent visits to his own properties have raised ethical concerns, with journalists and ethics experts alleging that these trips boost publicity for his golf courses and provide an opportunity for self-enrichment. The Office of Government Ethics director, Walter Shaub, criticized Trump's decision not to divest from his business holdings, including his golf courses, calling it "wholly inadequate" and creating a "meaningless conflict of interest perspective."
At least three lawsuits have been filed, alleging that foreign payments at Trump's golf courses violate the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. While the lawsuits were dismissed, Trump's actions have drawn criticism from ethics lawyers and journalists for potential conflicts of interest. Trump's golf trips have also impacted local resources, with Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw noting the need for additional helicopters, manpower, and boats to protect the president, resulting in significant costs for the county.
In conclusion, Trump's golf trips have raised ethical concerns due to the significant costs incurred by taxpayers, the potential for self-enrichment, conflicts of interest, and the strain placed on local resources. The frequent visits to his own resorts, coupled with the high expenses and ethical breaches, have led to widespread criticism of Trump's conduct as president.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2019, President Trump's golfing was estimated to have cost taxpayers over $100 million. By 2025, this figure had risen to $26 million for that year alone.
Trump's golfing costs are estimated to be just $12.7 million behind Barack Obama's travel expenses during his entire presidency.
Trump's golf trips have been found to benefit him directly. His businesses have charged the US government to house Secret Service agents and other White House staff, with some reports suggesting his properties have overcharged by as much as 300% beyond authorised government hotel rates.
Security costs make up a significant portion of the total expenses. For example, a 2018 trip to Scotland incurred costs of over $950,000 for the Secret Service alone.
