Donald Trump is back in the Oval Office, and back on the golf course, too. According to a new report from HuffPost, the president’s second term has already seen a major spike in taxpayer-funded golf expenses, totaling over $26 million just 69 days into the new term.
The analysis, based on a 2019 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, reveals that Trump has spent 18 days at his golf properties since his January 20 inauguration, with 14 of those at his West Palm Beach resort. That means the president has spent more than a quarter of his time in office so far at his own golf courses.
While every modern president travels and takes time for recreation, Trump’s golf outings come with a unique cost: most of them take place at resorts he personally owns, turning each trip into a financial boost for his private business. The $26.1 million price tag includes the cost of operating Air Force One, transporting the president’s motorcade, and deploying Secret Service agents and security gear for each visit.
The GAO’s original data comes from Trump’s first term, meaning the current estimate, calculated by HuffPost using 2017 costs, is likely conservative. With inflation and increased travel expenses, experts suggest today’s total could be even higher.
During his first term, Trump spent 293 days golfing, racking up a total of $151.5 million in taxpayer costs, almost all of it tied to visits to his own properties. Despite previous campaign promises to “rarely leave the White House,” Trump has maintained a consistent routine of weekend golf — a habit that continues to generate controversy.
With nearly four years left in office, and no signs of slowing down on the fairway, Trump’s golf schedule is likely to remain a flashpoint, especially as the bill continues to rise.
