Trump’s Golfing Expenses: A Stark Contrast to DOGE’s Proposed Savings

Trump’s Golfing Expenses: A Stark Contrast to DOGE’s Proposed Savings

In a recent announcement, the Pentagon, in collaboration with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), identified approximately $80 million in potential savings by targeting expenditures deemed non-essential, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and climate change research. However, this figure pales in comparison to the substantial costs incurred by taxpayers due to President Donald Trump’s frequent golf outings and stays at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

The Cost of Presidential Leisure

Since his return to office on January 20, 2025, President Trump has demonstrated a consistent pattern of weekend golf trips. Reports indicate that in his first month back, he spent all four weekends on the golf course, playing at his own properties on nine out of his first 30 days in office. These excursions have come at a significant cost to taxpayers.

According to a 2019 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), each trip to Mar-a-Lago during Trump’s first term cost approximately $3.4 million. This figure encompasses various expenses, including:

• Round-trip flights on Air Force One
• Transportation of vehicles, including presidential limousines
• Coast Guard deployments for security purposes

Applying this estimate to his recent trips, President Trump’s golf outings have already cost taxpayers around $10.7 million in his first month back in office. This calculation is based on three weekend trips to his West Palm Beach course and one to his Miami Doral resort. It’s important to note that these figures may be conservative, as they are based on 2017 dollars and do not account for inflation or additional security measures that may have been implemented since then.

Historical Context: A Pattern of High Expenditure

This pattern of high expenditure is not new. During his first term, President Trump’s golf trips were a significant burden on taxpayers. For instance, a two-day stopover at his Trump Turnberry golf resort in Scotland in 2018 cost American taxpayers more than $1 million. This included over $950,000 in Secret Service expenses and more than $230,000 spent by the State Department. Additionally, each trip to Mar-a-Lago during his first term was estimated to cost taxpayers $3.4 million, according to the GAO.

Comparing Costs: DOGE’s Savings vs. Trump’s Expenses

The $80 million in potential savings identified by DOGE is a fraction of the costs associated with President Trump’s leisure activities. To put this into perspective:

• In his first month back in office, Trump’s golf trips have cost taxpayers approximately $10.7 million.
• If this pattern continues, annual expenditures could reach over $120 million, surpassing DOGE’s proposed savings in less than a year.
• Over a four-year term, this could amount to nearly $500 million, significantly overshadowing the $80 million in savings identified by DOGE.

Public Perception and Criticism

These expenditures have drawn criticism from various quarters. Jordan Libowitz from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) commented, “It’s clear that when the Trump administration considers the definition of corruption and wasteful spending, it doesn’t count spending that ends up in the president’s pockets.” This sentiment reflects broader concerns about the ethical implications of the president profiting from his own leisure activities at the expense of taxpayers.

Conclusion

While efforts to identify and eliminate wasteful government spending are commendable, it’s crucial to apply the same scrutiny to all areas of expenditure, including those associated with presidential leisure activities. The stark contrast between DOGE’s proposed $80 million in savings and the substantial costs of President Trump’s golf trips raises important questions about fiscal responsibility and ethical governance.