Trump’s Golfing Since January Has Cost Taxpayers Millions — Could Exceed $300M, Analysis Finds

A recent analysis finds President Donald Trump’s frequent golf outings since returning to the White House in January have imposed a hefty bill on U.S. taxpayers. The estimate puts costs at nearly $71 million so far and projects they could exceed $300 million by the end of his second term.

That projection draws on government figures for a subset of trips and does not adjust for inflation, meaning the true burden on public funds is likely higher. Independent trackers report even larger totals, though exact tallies are difficult because not every trip is formally confirmed by the White House.

Where the money goes

Travel and security are the largest drivers of expense. Using Air Force One for flights between the Washington area and Palm Beach has been estimated at roughly $273,063 per flight hour; a typical four-hour round trip can approach $1.1 million. Securing private properties such as the Mar-a-Lago estate requires additional logistics and personnel that further raise costs.

Lodging and local accommodations for protection details have also added up. Reports indicate Secret Service teams sometimes pay heavily marked-up room rates to stay near the president’s venues, with instances of charges reportedly as high as 300 percent above standard rates. During the previous term, Secret Service spending at Mar-a-Lago across multiple visits was reported at about $300,000.

Context and comparisons

By one earlier estimate, Trump’s golfing and related sporting outings cost roughly $151.5 million during his first term (2017–2021). For comparison, a past estimate attributed about $90 million in total travel and leisure-related costs to President Barack Obama across his eight years in office. Observers say differences in frequency, location and security needs make direct comparisons imperfect.

“I really wish I could tell you that it would make anyone in America change their mind about him, but the corruption is so baked in, so endemic, and so ludicrous that it feels like the collective reaction will be a shrug,” said conservative consultant Rick Wilson. “It’s one more example of Trump defining the presidency down. Way, way down.”

Critics argue these expenditures illustrate broader concerns about the use of public resources for the president’s private leisure. Supporters say presidential travel and security are necessary and that costs are inherent to the office.

Beyond golf

Observers note the president’s costly use of government resources extends beyond golf: recent months have included upscale private events held at properties associated with the president, drawing additional scrutiny over the line between official duties and private entertainment. One widely reported private event at a Florida club coincided with a lapse in federal nutrition benefits for millions of Americans, intensifying criticism from opponents.

Because the high-end estimates are based on a combination of government reviews and independent trackers, and because some figures exclude inflation or unconfirmed trips, the analysis warns that the final tally could be materially higher than currently reported.