Dear Editor,
As of March 17, just 56 days into his presidency, Donald Trump has already spent nearly 30% of his time golfing despite promising he would be “too busy working” to play.
His trips to his own properties, particularly Mar-a-Lago, aren’t just frequent; they’re costly. The U.S. government has likely spent over $23 million on these outings, with Palm Beach County alone paying $240,000 per day to support his security.
Past presidents, including Barack Obama and George W. Bush, played golf, but Trump repeatedly criticized Obama for it before exceeding his predecessor’s golf habit himself. The issue isn’t just hypocrisy or leisure; it’s that taxpayer dollars are flowing directly into Trump’s own businesses. His refusal to divest from his family’s properties means the government is paying for Secret Service agents and staff to stay at Mar-a-Lago and other Trump properties, effectively enriching himself with public funds.
Trump’s golf trips aren’t just a matter of personal downtime; they represent a clear abuse of taxpayer money. If he truly prioritized the public over personal profit, he would either reduce these visits or ensure that no government funds directly benefit his businesses.
When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
Ace Jones, Greensboro