Donald Trump’s golf tab for taxpayers since he was sworn in back on Jan. 20 has been eye-popping.
On the high end, the website DidTrumpGolfToday.com estimates that the president has spent $84 million on the links at taxpayers’ expense. On the lower end, Golf 365 estimates Trump’s golfing this year has cost taxpayers $71 million.
But even if you take Golf365’s low estimate, the site said the president’s expected attendance at the Ryder Cup, which is slated to begin on Friday at Bethpage Black in New York, is set to cost taxpayers a staggering sum.
How much you ask?
Well, the website used previous Trump visits to big sporting events to come up with the whopping sum of $17 million. Sound like a lot? Well, per Golf365, Trump’s attendance of the Super Bowl cost around $20 million and his stop in at the US Open hit somewhere near the $8 million mark.
The website noted the cost of using Air Force One, as well as flights for accompanying cargo, motorcade vehicles, Secret Service and local policing, perimeter planning, hotel rooms, security checkpoints and salaries as well in coming up with the number.
It also noted that an “increased threat level” will likely drive up the cost.
Trump reportedly spent $151.5 million golfing during his first term so he is on track to blow those totals out of the water.
A 2019 Government Accountability Office report that examined Trump’s first four trips to Mar-a-Lago during his first administration. You can see the report, here. It calculated that each of those trips cost $3,383,250, and that was based on 2017 dollars meaning that the actual cost today is likely higher than the estimate.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.