Jackson Reid
Former US President Donald Trump's golf trips have been a cause for concern for taxpayers. Trump has spent a significant amount of money on golf outings, with estimates placing the cost at around $13.6 million for four trips to his Palm Beach resort during his first term, including flying on Air Force One and separate cargo planes. Trump's frequent visits to his golf clubs and properties, such as Mar-a-Lago, have raised questions about the costs incurred by taxpayers and potential conflicts of interest. During his first term, Trump's properties were reported to have overcharged the Secret Service, and his businesses received funds from foreign governments. With 328 visits to golf courses during his first term, Trump's golfing excursions have cost taxpayers an estimated $142 million, including expenses for Secret Service accommodation and Coast Guard protection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost to taxpayers for Trump's golf trips | $13.6 million for four trips to his Palm Beach resort during his first term, $3.4 million for each visit |
| Cost to taxpayers for trips to Mar-a-Lago | $59 million |
| Total cost to taxpayers for Trump's golfing trips | $142 million |
| Amount spent by the Secret Service | $2 million |
| Number of visits to Mar-a-Lago | 145 |
| Number of visits to Trump's golf courses | 328 |
| Number of days spent on golf trips in the first 48 days in office | 13 |
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What You'll Learn
The cost of Trump's golf trips
Trump's frequent trips to his own golf courses and resorts, such as Mar-a-Lago, have been scrutinized for their direct financial benefit to his businesses. During his first term, his properties were reported to have overcharged the Secret Service by up to 300% beyond authorized government hotel rates. According to a Democratic report, the Trump Organization charged the Secret Service up to $1,815 per room per night at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC.
Trump's visits to his golf properties also incur additional costs for local law enforcement agencies. For example, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department spends $240,000 per day to assist the Secret Service in protecting Trump during his stays in Florida. These expenses are reimbursed by the federal government, further increasing the overall cost of Trump's golf trips to taxpayers.
While it is challenging to determine the exact amount spent by the Secret Service and other agencies at Trump-owned properties, watchdog groups have provided estimates. 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. During this period, Trump visited his properties 547 times, including 145 trips to Mar-a-Lago and 328 visits to his various golf courses.
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Trump's golf trips to Mar-a-Lago
Mar-a-Lago is a resort and National Historic Landmark in Palm Beach, Florida. It has been owned by Donald Trump since 1985. Trump's first visit to Mar-a-Lago as President of the United States took place on the weekend of February 3-6, 2017. During his first term, Trump visited Mar-a-Lago 145 times, according to the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).
Trump's frequent trips to his golf clubs, including Mar-a-Lago, have been criticised as a drain on county resources. The Palm Beach County Sheriff, Ric Bradshaw, has had to put helicopters in the air, extra manpower on the ground, and boats on both sides of Trump's mansion during his visits. The sheriff's office has also had to approve additional funding for security during Trump's visits, with the daily overtime bill alone reaching $240,000.
Trump's businesses have also been accused of overcharging the Secret Service by up to 300% beyond authorised government hotel rates during his first term. According to a report by Democrats in Congress, Trump's businesses received $7.8 million from at least 20 foreign governments during his first administration, with payments from foreign governments potentially reaching $13.6 million.
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Trump's golf trips to Florida
Donald Trump's golf trips to Florida have cost American taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Trump's frequent visits to his golf clubs in Florida, including his private club and "winter White House" at Mar-a-Lago, have raised concerns about the financial burden on taxpayers and potential conflicts of interest.
Trump's first golf course, the Trump International Golf Club, opened in West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1999. By 2007, he owned four courses in the US, and he has since expanded his golf course business worldwide. Trump's love for golf is well-known, and he has continued to make frequent golf-focused trips during his presidency.
During his first term in office, Trump visited his own properties an astounding 547 times, including 145 trips to Mar-a-Lago and 328 visits to his various golf courses. These trips cost American taxpayers millions of dollars in expenses such as transportation, accommodation, and security. A 2019 report by 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 were audited during Trump's first term, with a significant portion of that money going directly to Trump's businesses.
The high cost of Trump's golf trips to Florida is due to various factors, including the use of Air Force One and separate cargo planes to transport the presidential motorcade, as well as the need for additional security measures such as police boats with machine guns and Coast Guard vessels to patrol the waterways near Mar-a-Lago. Trump's businesses have also been accused of overcharging the Secret Service by up to 300% beyond authorized government hotel rates.
In addition to the financial concerns, Trump's frequent golf trips to Florida have also sparked ethical debates. While Trump criticized his predecessor, Barack Obama, for golfing while in office, he has conducted official business and brought senior US officials on his golf-focused trips, blurring the lines between personal enjoyment and presidential duties. Trump's businesses have also benefited financially from these trips, as they charged the US government to house Secret Service agents and other White House staff.
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Trump's golf trips during his first term
During his presidency, Donald Trump's frequent golf trips generated controversy. Notably, Trump had previously criticised his predecessor, Barack Obama, for playing too much golf during his presidency. However, Trump's first eight weeks in office saw him play golf 11 times, while Obama did not play any golf during his first eight weeks.
Trump's frequent visits to his golf courses in Florida, particularly Mar-a-Lago, have been a drain on county resources. The Palm Beach County Sheriff, Ric Bradshaw, has had to deploy helicopters, extra manpower, and boats to provide security for Trump's trips. Commissioners approved Bradshaw's "urgent request" of $45 million to provide security for Trump's visits through November, with the expectation that the cost would continue to rise.
In total, Trump is estimated to have made 285 daytime visits to golf clubs during his first term, with evidence of him playing golf on at least 142 occasions. Trump's golf trips during his first four years in office contributed to the perception that he spent a significant amount of time on the golf course, with some sources estimating that he spent almost a full year golfing during his presidency.
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The number of golf trips Trump has taken
While it is unclear exactly how many golf trips former US President Donald Trump has taken, it is estimated that he visited his own golf properties 328 times during his first term in office. This figure was calculated by the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).
Trump's frequent trips to his golf clubs have been criticised for sending 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 golf trips have also been a source of controversy due to their cost to taxpayers. The Secret Service has spent nearly $2 million at Trump-owned properties, and the total cost of Trump's golfing trips during his first term is estimated to be $151.5 million. This includes the cost of flying Trump in on Air Force One, as well as separate cargo planes to carry the presidential motorcade.
In addition to the direct costs, there are also indirect costs associated with Trump's golf trips, such as the cost of Coast Guard protection at his Florida property and the cost of renting additional restrooms for the Secret Service. Trump's frequent trips to his own properties have also been criticised as a direct benefit to his businesses, as they have charged the US government to house Secret Service agents and other White House staff.
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Frequently asked questions
Trump has made seven trips to Florida and its golf courses since his inauguration on 20 January.
Trump has spent an estimated $151.5 million of taxpayer money on golfing trips during his first term.
It is estimated that the US government has spent more than $23 million on Trump's golf outings in his second term.
Trump's trips to Mar-a-Lago cost $59 million, with each trip costing $3,383,250.
