Estimating the exact amount Donald Trump spends on golf is challenging due to varying reports and the mix of personal and taxpayer-funded expenses. However, available data focuses primarily on the taxpayer costs associated with his golf outings, particularly during his presidency, as these have been tracked and reported by multiple sources. Personal spending on golf by Trump is not well-documented publicly, so the response will focus on taxpayer-funded costs and available context, while critically examining the narrative and acknowledging limitations in the data.
### Taxpayer-Funded Golf Costs (Second Term, 2025):
- **HuffPost Analysis (March 30, 2025)**: Reports that Trump’s golf trips in his second term (since January 20, 2025) have cost taxpayers approximately **$26.1 million** for 18 golfing days, with 14 at his West Palm Beach club. This estimate is based on a 2019 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which calculated **$3.4 million per trip** to Mar-a-Lago in 2017 dollars, noting costs are likely higher today due to inflation.[](https://www.pennlive.com/news/2025/03/donald-trumps-new-golf-tab-for-taxpayers-hits-incredible-milestone.html)[](https://www.masslive.com/news/2025/03/taxpayers-tab-for-trumps-golfing-during-2nd-term-reaches-milestone-report-says.html)
- **Later Estimates (July 2025)**: Posts on X and some reports suggest costs have risen to **$60 million** for 43 golf outings in 2025, averaging around **$1.4 million per trip**. These figures are less verified and may rely on extrapolated estimates rather than official reports.
- **Cost Breakdown**: Expenses include Air Force One operations (estimated at $15,994–$206,337 per hour depending on the source), C-17 cargo planes for motorcade vehicles, Secret Service protection, local law enforcement, and Coast Guard support. Additional costs arise from security enhancements following two reported assassination attempts in 2024.[](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-playing-golf-florida-cost-b2711532.html)[](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/17/trump-golf-taxes)
### First Term Costs (2017–2021):
- **HuffPost and Other Analyses**: Trump’s golf trips during his first term reportedly cost taxpayers **$151.5 million** over four years, covering 293 golfing days at his properties. This averages to roughly **$517,000 per golfing day**, though individual trips (e.g., to Mar-a-Lago) were estimated at **$3.4 million each** based on the 2019 GAO report.[](https://www.pennlive.com/news/2025/03/donald-trumps-new-golf-tab-for-taxpayers-hits-incredible-milestone.html)[](https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/trumps-golf-weekends-in-florida-cost-american-taxpayers-18m-all-about-prezs-love-for-the-game-the-disquiet-over-it-101741509078799.html)[](https://www.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-already-spent-10-003317081.html)
- **International Trips**: A 2018 trip to Trump’s Turnberry resort in Scotland cost over **$1.1 million**, including Secret Service ($950,000) and State Department ($230,000) expenses.[](https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/new-report-shows-taxpayers-foot-the-bill-for-president-trump-s-1-million-weekend)
- **Forbes Projection (2019)**: Estimated that if Trump continued his pace and was re-elected, total costs could exceed **$340 million** over eight years.[](https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckjones/2019/07/10/trumps-golf-trips-could-cost-taxpayers-over-340-million/)
### Personal Spending:
- No specific figures are publicly available for Trump’s personal golf expenditures (e.g., equipment, memberships, or course maintenance). As the owner of multiple golf courses (17 worldwide by 2016), Trump likely incurs minimal personal costs for playing at his own properties.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_and_golf)
- His businesses, including Mar-a-Lago, have charged the government for Secret Service accommodations (e.g., $800+ per night), raising concerns about self-enrichment, though this is not a direct personal expense.[](https://fortune.com/2025/01/17/trump-267m-golf-income-political-business-interests-intersect-white-house/)[](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/17/trump-golf-taxes)
### Critical Analysis:
- **Data Limitations**: Cost estimates vary due to assumptions in calculations (e.g., Air Force One’s hourly rate, allocation of security costs). The GAO’s 2019 report provides a baseline, but inflation and increased security needs in 2025 likely inflate current costs beyond reported figures. Some sources, like X posts, may exaggerate or lack rigorous methodology.[](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/10/31/fact-check-taxpayer-burden-trumps-golfing-hard-pin-down/3718413001/)[](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/278-years-golf/)
- **Conflict of Interest Concerns**: Critics highlight that Trump’s golfing at his own properties (e.g., Mar-a-Lago, Doral, Bedminster) directs taxpayer money to his businesses, potentially violating the Emoluments Clause. This was the subject of dismissed lawsuits during his first term.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_and_golf)[](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/17/trump-golf-taxes)
- **Comparison to Other Presidents**: Trump criticized Barack Obama for golfing, claiming Obama’s outings were less frequent and costly (often local, not requiring Air Force One). Obama’s total travel costs over eight years were estimated at **$114.7 million**, compared to Trump’s **$151.5 million** for golf alone in his first term.[](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-golf-102-million-report-1432550)[](https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckjones/2019/07/10/trumps-golf-trips-could-cost-taxpayers-over-340-million/)
- **Narrative Scrutiny**: Many sources (e.g., HuffPost, The Guardian) lean critical of Trump, emphasizing waste and self-enrichment. Conversely, Trump’s team argues his business ownership and decision to forgo his **$400,000 presidential salary** offset costs, though this claim doesn’t account for the scale of taxpayer expenses.[](https://fortune.com/2025/01/17/trump-267m-golf-income-political-business-interests-intersect-white-house/)
### Summary:
- **Second Term (2025)**: Taxpayer costs for Trump’s golf trips are estimated at **$26.1 million** (March 2025, 18 days) to **$60 million** (July 2025, 43 outings), with per-trip costs around **$1.4–$3.4 million** depending on the source.
- **First Term (2017–2021)**: Total costs reached **$151.5 million** for 293 golfing days, with international trips like Scotland adding over **$1.1 million** each.
- **Personal Spending**: Unclear, but likely minimal due to ownership of courses.
- **Context**: Costs are driven by travel (Air Force One, C-17s), security, and local law enforcement. Critics argue these expenses enrich Trump’s businesses, while supporters downplay the issue relative to his broader financial sacrifices.
For the most accurate updates, check sources like the GAO or reputable outlets, as X posts and some reports may lack precision. If you want specific details (e.g., a breakdown of a single trip or comparison to another president), let me know[](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/17/trump-golf-taxes)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_and_golf)
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