Connecting hardworking American taxpayers with their president's most deeply held passion — one $3.4 million trip at a time.
You didn't choose to donate. You were never asked. But somewhere between your federal income tax, your payroll tax, and the Air Force One operating costs of $273,063 per hour, you have generously contributed to one of the most expensive presidential hobbies in American history. 16 of those golf days have come in 2026 alone — including multiple days during the active Iran war that killed 13 American service members and wounded 365 more.
In his first term, it took Trump two full years to hit the $100 million mark. In his second term, he crossed $144 million in 15 months — almost equaling his entire first-term total. In his first term (2017–2021), Trump spent an estimated $151.5 million in taxpayer money on golf trips. In his second term, he is on pace to spend more than $300 million — nearly doubling his first-term total. As of March 2026, he has already passed the $100 million mark in his second term alone, per a HuffPost analysis using methodology from a 2019 Government Accountability Office report. He has golfed on more than one quarter of all days since returning to office.
Before he was president, Trump had opinions about this. He tweeted in 2014: "I say we cannot continue to let Obama fly around on Air Force 1, at a cost of millions of dollars a day, for the purpose of politics & play." Obama played most of his golf at Joint Base Andrews — a short motorcade ride from the White House. Trump has never golfed there.
| Expense | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force One — per trip to Florida | ~$1.6M+ | GAO · $273,063/hr operating cost |
| C-17 cargo planes (motorcade vehicles) | ~$800K/trip | GAO 2019 · Air Force |
| Secret Service personnel costs — per trip | ~$1M/trip | GAO methodology · HuffPost |
| Coast Guard maritime patrols, Mar-a-Lago | Included | GAO · adds to each trip total |
| Secret Service rooms — Mar-a-Lago rate | $650/night | Washington Post · FOIA records |
| Secret Service rooms — Bedminster cottage | $17,000/month | House Oversight Committee |
| Trump National Doral — Secret Service | $23,000+ | CREW FOIA records |
| Bedminster, NJ — per trip cost | $1.1M/trip | HuffPost · 8 trips this term |
| Trump Doral, FL — per trip cost | $2.7M/trip | HuffPost · 5 trips this term |
| Scotland golf course promotion trip | $9.7M | HuffPost confirmed |
| Average cost per Mar-a-Lago golf trip | $3.4 million | GAO confirmed · 2019 report |
The Trump Organization charges taxpayers for Secret Service lodging at properties Trump owns and profits from. Nothing prevents the Trump Organization from providing those rooms for free. — CREW, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
"I say we cannot continue to let Obama fly around on Air Force 1, at a cost of millions of dollars a day, for the purpose of politics & play!"
Trump, criticizing President Obama's golf trips. Obama played primarily at Joint Base Andrews — a short motorcade ride from the White House. Trump has never golfed there."I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the Commander-in-Chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."
— President George W. Bush · Interview with Politico/Yahoo · May 13, 2008 · On why he stopped playing golf after August 2003, following a deadly bombing in Baghdad that killed UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello. Bush played 24 rounds total during his presidency. This quote went viral in March 2026.AP/PBS: "Trump used both days of the weekend to spend hours at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. He also attended a closed-door fundraiser for his MAGA Inc. super PAC at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Saturday night." — March 2026, two weeks into the Iran war.
| President | Rounds | Taxpayer Cost | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trump (1st term, 2017–21) | ~300+ | $151.5M | Golfed ~25% of days. Never at Joint Base Andrews. |
| Trump (2nd term, 2025–present) | 110+ days | $101M+ so far | On pace for $300M total second term. |
| Obama (8 years) | 333 | ~$85–90M | Played mostly at Joint Base Andrews. Far cheaper per round. |
| George W. Bush | 24 | Much less | Quit entirely after August 2003. Iraq War solidarity. |
| Biden | Rarely | Minimal | Used Marine One or smaller aircraft. Far lower travel cost. |
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