Last Updated on July 23, 2025 by ThePublic
Frequency of Visits to Trump Properties During Second Term
Since his inauguration on January 20, 2025, as the 47th President, Donald Trump has visited his properties frequently. As of June 29, 2025, Trump had visited his properties 88 times during his second term, with 51 of those visits being to his golf courses. Given that this date is approximately 160 days into his term, this averages to about one visit every 1.8 days.
More specifically, by April 29, 2025 (99 days into his term), Trump had made 63 visits to his properties, with at least half being golf-related, suggesting a pace of roughly one visit every 1.5 days at that point. By July 11, 2025, the 172nd day of his term, it’s reasonable to estimate, based on this trend, that Trump has visited his properties around 95–100 times, though exact figures beyond June 29 are unavailable in the provided data.
These visits primarily include Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump National Doral in Miami, and other Trump-branded golf courses.
Cost to Taxpayers
Estimating the cost of these visits is complex due to incomplete and inconsistent reporting, but available data provides some insight:
- Historical Costs from First Term: A 2019 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report estimated that four trips to Mar-a-Lago in 2017 cost taxpayers $13.6 million, averaging $3.4 million per trip. These costs included Air Force One operations, Secret Service protection, Coast Guard support, and local law enforcement reimbursements. For instance, Secret Service expenses at Mar-a-Lago included room rates up to $650 per night, and Palm Beach County reported spending $240,000 daily on security.
- Second Term Estimates:
- A February 2025 report estimated that Trump’s golf trips to Florida, particularly Mar-a-Lago, had cost taxpayers approximately $10.7 million for five trips, based on the $3.4 million per-trip average from 2017, adjusted for partial costs on one trip starting from Las Vegas.
- By March 2025, The Independent reported that 13 golf outings had cost over $18 million, again using the 2019 GAO estimate as a baseline.
- Posts on X claim costs ranging from $23 million to $59 million for Mar-a-Lago visits and golf trips by July 2025, though these figures are estimates and lack precise breakdowns. For example, one post cites $56 million for weekend golf trips, while another mentions $26 million, highlighting the variability in these claims.
- Direct Payments to Trump Properties: During Trump’s first term, the Secret Service paid nearly $2 million to Trump properties, with Mar-a-Lago alone receiving over $300,000 for accommodations. Similar patterns are likely continuing, as Trump’s company charged rates as high as $1,185 per night for Secret Service rooms at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., during his first term. These payments directly benefit Trump’s businesses, raising concerns about self-enrichment.
- Current Term Cost Projection: Assuming the $3.4 million per-trip estimate from 2017 (not adjusted for inflation), and estimating 95–100 visits by July 11, 2025, the total cost could range from $323 million to $340 million. However, this is a rough extrapolation, as not all visits involve the same expenses (e.g., shorter trips to nearby properties like Trump National in Sterling, Virginia, would cost less than Mar-a-Lago trips). Adjusting for inflation since 2017 (approximately 25% based on CPI data), the per-trip cost could be closer to $4.25 million, pushing the total toward $404–425 million. These figures are speculative due to the lack of precise, up-to-date accounting.
Key Considerations
- Incomplete Data: Unlike past presidents, Trump’s administration has not consistently disclosed detailed travel expenses, and no single agency tracks total spending at his properties. Freedom of Information Act requests have revealed only partial records, and the Secret Service often lists payments vaguely (e.g., “Trump National Golf Club” without specifying location).
- Conflict of Interest: Trump’s refusal to divest from his business empire means taxpayer funds paid to his properties (e.g., for Secret Service lodging) directly enrich him, a practice criticized as unprecedented. For example, Mar-a-Lago charged $3 per glass of water for a bilateral meeting, and Bedminster charged $17,000 monthly for a cottage even when unused.
- Comparison to First Term: During his first term, Trump visited his properties 547 times, including 145 trips to Mar-a-Lago, costing an estimated $151.5 million for golf-related travel alone. The current pace suggests he may approach or exceed this frequency in his second term.
Conclusion
Donald Trump has visited his properties approximately 95–100 times in the first 172 days of his second term (as of July 11, 2025), averaging about one visit every 1.7–1.8 days, with over half involving golf courses. The cost to taxpayers is estimated at tens of millions, potentially ranging from $23 million to $59 million based on recent claims, though projections using first-term data suggest a possible total of $323–425 million if the pace continues. These figures are uncertain due to limited transparency and reliance on estimates. For the most accurate and updated information, official government reports or audits would be needed, but such data is not currently public.
Wrapping Up
Trump has likely spent more total time (in hours) at his properties than in the Oval Office during his second term, driven by the high frequency of visits (95–100 in 172 days) and multi-day stays at places like Mar-a-Lago. However, in terms of days present, he has likely spent more days in or around the White House (where the Oval Office is located) than at his properties, though not necessarily in the Oval Office itself due to its limited use as a workspace. The comparison is nuanced because “time at properties” includes leisure and extended stays, while “time in the Oval Office” is a narrower measure of working hours.