Jackson Reid
Former US President Donald Trump's love of golf is well-known. It has been a significant part of his presidency, with some estimating that he has spent over 300 days playing golf during his first term. Trump's golfing habits have been a topic of scrutiny and debate, especially concerning the implications of his leisure activities on his presidential duties and the expenses incurred by taxpayers. While the exact number of times he has golfed is unclear and fluctuates depending on the source, it is clear that golf remains a central part of his lifestyle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of golfing during presidency | 332 times as of April 5, 2025; 298 times as of August 2020; 27 times as of May 2025; 5 times as of mid-February 2025 |
| Number of rounds played during first term | 261 (estimated) |
| Taxpayer costs | Over $26 million for second term; $151.5 million over four years (estimated) |
| Number of golf courses owned | 17 in the US |
| Number of times played golf with members of Congress | 7 |
| Number of times played golf with Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe | 5 |
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What You'll Learn
Golf's impact on Trump's diplomacy
Golf has been a significant part of Donald Trump's presidency, with the former president known for his deep love of the sport. This love for golf has also impacted American diplomacy. Trump's frequent golfing trips, often to his own properties, have been a source of criticism and controversy during his time in office. The cost of these trips, estimated to be around $151.5 million over four years, has been a contentious issue, with taxpayers arguing that they should not have to bear the expenses for the president's recreational activities.
Despite the criticism, Trump has continued to golf regularly, and it is believed that golf played a significant role in his presidency. In 2019, a report from the Government Accountability Office found that Trump played golf 115 times, while only 81 times were officially reported. The lack of transparency surrounding his golfing outings has been a source of frustration for many, with critics arguing that there is a lack of information about his playing partners, the costs to taxpayers, and potential conflicts of interest.
Trump's defence for his golfing habits has been that it helps him develop "deeper and better relationships with members of Congress," aiding in pushing forward his agenda. This was evident when Trump played golf with the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, five times, helping to foster a personal connection between the two leaders. Trump's victory in the 2024 United States presidential election also influenced the President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, to take up golfing again to benefit his country during Trump's second term.
While the exact number of times Trump has golfed during his presidency is uncertain, with various sources providing different estimates, it is clear that his golfing habits have been a notable aspect of his time in office, impacting both his diplomatic relationships and public perception.
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Criticisms of Trump's golfing
While Donald Trump's love for golf is well-known, his golfing habits have been a topic of scrutiny and debate, with many people criticising the amount of time he spends on the golf course. Trump has been criticised for spending too much time golfing instead of focusing on his presidential duties. This criticism began during his first term, with some estimating that he spent over 300 days playing golf during his presidency, even though he had frequently criticised Obama for golfing during his presidency. By August 2020, Trump had played golf 298 times, while Obama had played 213 times during the same period in his presidency.
Trump's golfing has also raised concerns about a lack of transparency, with critics arguing that there is a lack of information about who he plays with, the costs to taxpayers, and potential conflicts of interest. In 2019, a report from the Government Accountability Office found that Trump had played golf 115 times, 34 times more than the 81 times that had been officially reported. Furthermore, there have been discrepancies in Trump's statements about his golfing habits. He has claimed that he does not have time for golf and only plays with people who can help the country, but there have been reports of him playing with friends and family.
The cost of Trump's golfing trips has been a contentious issue, with taxpayers arguing that they should not have to pay for the president's recreational activities. The conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch estimated Trump's golf trips cost taxpayers around $151.5 million over four years, significantly more than Obama's golf trips, which cost around $114 million over eight years. Trump's golfing has also affected American diplomacy, with Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe playing golf with him five times, helping to foster a personal connection between the two leaders.
Trump's golfing habits have continued to attract attention during his second term. By April 5, 2025, he had reportedly visited a golf course 332 times during his presidency, with an estimated 261 rounds played during his first term. As of late May 2025, Trump had played golf 27 times that year, with golf remaining a central part of his lifestyle. While some have criticised Trump's golfing, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders defended it, stating that Trump used his time on the course to develop relationships with members of Congress, helping to push forward the president's agenda.
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Trump's golfing in 2025
Donald Trump's love of golf is well-known, and his golfing habits have been a topic of scrutiny and debate during his presidency. Even before he became President of the United States, Trump spent a considerable amount of time on the golf course. However, his obsession with the sport grew once he took office, leading to criticisms that he was prioritising leisure over his presidential duties.
Trump's golfing has also been a subject of controversy due to a lack of transparency surrounding his activities. Critics have argued that the lack of information about who he plays with, the costs to taxpayers, and potential conflicts of interest are concerning. There have been discrepancies in the official counts of his golfing trips, and Trump has made conflicting statements about his golfing habits, further adding to the debate.
In 2025, Trump's golfing continues to be a topic of discussion. According to various media outlets and golf-watching enthusiasts, as of late May 2025, Trump had reportedly played golf 27 times that year. This frequency of golfing has contributed to the resurgence of golf in 2025, attracting new fans and players of all ages.
While the exact number of rounds Trump has played in 2025 may fluctuate depending on the source, it is clear that golf remains a central part of his lifestyle. Trump's golfing habits have even influenced American diplomacy, with world leaders like former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe using golf to foster closer personal relationships. As Trump begins his second term in 2025, the world will continue to watch and debate his golfing activities and their implications.
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Cost of Trump's golfing trips
Since his return to the White House, President Donald Trump's golfing trips have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. According to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of the four trips to Mar-a-Lago during his first term in office. This includes the cost of flying Air Force One, cargo jets, and motorcades, as well as the cost of Secret Service accommodations, which watchdogs claim were overcharged by up to 300%.
Trump's frequent visits to his golf properties have also incurred significant security costs. In Palm Beach County, local law enforcement has incurred approximately $240,000 in overtime per day to provide security for the president's trips. The county sheriff, Ric Bradshaw, has requested a $45 million invoice to cover security costs through November, with the expectation that the cost will continue to rise.
Critics have argued that Trump's golfing trips drain public finances and blur ethical lines, as the president continues to profit from his ownership of the golf properties he frequents. During his first term, Trump spent nearly one-third of his days at properties he owned, and his visits to golf properties have been estimated to cost taxpayers at least $105 million. If he is re-elected, the total cost of his golfing trips could exceed $340 million.
While Trump has defended his golfing as an opportunity to develop relationships and push forward his agenda, the cost of these trips has sparked concerns about conflict of interest and the prioritization of private business interests over presidential duties. The exact number of Trump's golfing trips varies depending on the reporting source, but as of late May 2025, it is estimated that he has played golf 27 times this year.
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Trump's golfing compared to Obama's
Former US President Donald Trump is known for his love of golf, and his golfing habits have been a topic of scrutiny and debate. Even before he became president, he spent a considerable amount of time on the golf course, and his obsession with the sport only grew once he took office. Trump's golfing has been criticised for taking time away from his presidential duties, and for the lack of transparency surrounding it, including the costs to taxpayers.
Trump's golfing has also been the subject of controversy due to potential conflicts of interest. For example, in 2017, he invited the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe, to play golf at the Trump International Golf Club in Florida and stay at his Mar-a-Lago resort. This raised legal and ethical concerns about foreign payments.
Trump's golfing has been frequently compared to that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. By August 2020, Trump had played golf 298 times during his presidency, while Obama had played 213 times during the same period in his presidency. Trump's golfing trips have also been more expensive for taxpayers, with estimates of $151.5 million over four years compared to $114 million over eight years for Obama.
While the exact number of times Trump has golfed as president fluctuates depending on the source, there is a consensus that golf has played a significant role in his presidency and remains a central part of his lifestyle. As of late May 2025, it was reported that Trump had played golf 27 times that year, and by April 5, 2025, he had reportedly visited a golf course 332 times during his presidency.
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Frequently asked questions
As of late May 2025, President Donald Trump has reportedly played golf 27 times. However, there is a lack of transparency surrounding his golfing habits, with critics arguing that there is a lack of information about who he plays with and how much it costs taxpayers.
By April 5, 2025, Trump had visited a golf course 332 times during his presidency, including both his first and second terms. It is estimated that he played around 261 rounds of golf during his first term, averaging one round every 5.6 days.
By August 2020, Trump had played golf 298 times, while Obama had played 213 times during the same period in his presidency.
Trump has faced criticism for spending too much time golfing instead of focusing on his presidential duties. There have also been concerns raised about the cost of his golfing trips, with estimates that they have cost taxpayers over $151.5 million over four years.
