Taxpayer Cost Breakdown
Executive Summary
The taxpayer cost of presidential golf trips varies dramatically depending on the destination. The primary cost drivers are flight distance, the type of aircraft required, and location-specific security needs.
Below is an analysis based on Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports and Department of Defense flight hour data.
1. The "Mar-a-Lago" Weekend
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Cost: ~$3.4 Million per trip
This high cost is driven by the use of Air Force One (Boeing 747) and the necessity of C-5M Super Galaxy or C-17 heavy airlift aircraft to transport the motorcade. Additionally, the resort's coastal location requires a unique and expensive maritime security operation by the U.S. Coast Guard.
| Air Force One & Cargo Planes | $1,875,000 |
| Coast Guard (Maritime Security) | $762,500 |
| Secret Service / DOD Per Diem | $750,000 |
| Total | $3,387,500 |
2. The "Bedminster" Trip
Location: New Jersey
Cost: ~$1.1 million per trip
Trips to Bedminster cost approximately $1.1 million each. This cost is lower than florida trips because the President typically uses a smaller Boeing 757 instead of the 747 (Air Force One).
- Travel uses a smaller 757, reducing flight costs compared to the 747.
- No maritime security requirements.
- Includes costs for secret Service protection and logistics.
3. The "Local" Round
Location: Washington, DC
Cost: < $150,000
The lowest-cost scenario. Because this location is near the White House, travel is conducted entirely by motorcade, eliminating all aircraft expenses—the largest component of travel costs. The total cost consists mainly of vehicle operations and personnel overtime.
4. Las Vegas & West Coast
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Cost: ~$2.0 Million per day
Trips to the West Coast are more expensive than Florida due to the longer flight time (~4.5 hours vs ~2.5 hours to Florida). This increases operational costs for Air Force One and cargo aircraft transporting the motorcade.
5. International: Scotland
Location: Trump Turnberry / Aberdeen, Scotland
Cost: ~$2.0 Million per day
Transatlantic trips involve ~7 hour flights each way on Air Force One (~$2.8M each way). Combined with cargo aircraft, international security coordination, and extended advance team deployments, these are among the most expensive presidential trips.
Current Cost by Location
Below is the breakdown of golf days and estimated taxpayer costs by location for the current term:
| Location | Days | Cost/Day | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar-a-Lago | 34 | $1,360,000 | $46,240,000 |
| Scotland | 5 | $2,000,000 | $10,000,000 |
| Bedminster, NJ | 15 | $400,000 | $6,000,000 |
| Washington, DC | 32 | $150,000 | $4,800,000 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| West Palm Beach, FL | 1 | $1,360,000 | $1,360,000 |
| Doral, FL | 1 | $1,360,000 | $1,360,000 |
| Total | 89 | — | $71,760,000 |
Important: These figures represent minimum estimates based on golf days only. Per-day costs are derived from GAO per-trip estimates divided by average trip length (~2.5 days).
Actual costs are likely 20-40% higher when accounting for arrival and departure days, advance team deployments, and post-visit security operations. The full security apparatus (Air Force One, Coast Guard, Secret Service) is deployed for the entire trip duration, not just golf days.
External Estimates & Validation
Independent analyses from news organizations and watchdog groups provide additional context for these estimates:
| Second Term (2025) - External Estimate | ~$70.8 Million |
| First Term Total (2017-2021) | $151.5 Million |
| Projected Full Second Term | ~$300 Million |
Sources: Independent media reports based on GAO methodology and public records. Variations between estimates reflect different counting methods and which expenses are included.
Additional Cost: Payments to Trump Properties
Beyond travel and security costs, taxpayer money flows directly to Trump-owned businesses when the Secret Service rents rooms, golf carts, and facilities at his properties.
| Secret Service at Trump Properties (2025) | ~$100,000 |
| Golf Carts & Portable Toilets (Bedminster) | $600,000+ |
Source: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) via FOIA requests. These payments represent revenue to Trump's businesses on top of the travel costs tracked above.