Trump's Golf Trips Cost Taxpayers $184.8 Million as Secret Service Food Bills Flow to His Clubs
Updated
Updated · AOL · Sep 8
Trump's Golf Trips Cost Taxpayers $184.8 Million as Secret Service Food Bills Flow to His Clubs
3 articles · Updated · AOL · Sep 8
Summary
$184.8 million is the latest estimated taxpayer cost of Trump's second-term golf habit, with one tracker counting 132 golf days out of 597 days in office — 22.1% of his presidency.
At Trump-owned clubs, Secret Service agents protecting him are billed for food because they cannot accept gifts, creating a loop in which public money is paid back to Trump's businesses.
Forbes reported Trump favors hot dogs at Trump National outside Washington, where former employees said staff prepared as many as 50 per outing for him and dozens of agents.
The food charges are small beside travel and security costs: a 2019 GAO review found four Mar-a-Lago trips in Trump's first term cost federal agencies about $13.6 million.
The latest figures extend scrutiny of Trump's use of his own properties, after earlier reports said his clubs also billed the Secret Service for hot dogs and other expenses.