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Trump’s golfing hobby costs American taxpayers $118 million: Report

In this AFP file photo taken on July 14, 2018, US President Donald Trump (C) plays a round of golf on the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry, southwest of Glasgow, Scotland.

President Donald Trump’s golfing hobby has cost the American taxpayer a phenomenal $118 million dollars, the equivalent of 296 years of the $400,000 presidential salary he often boasts he is not receiving, according to a report.

Of the $118 millions which have been spent on travel and security expenses, at least several million have gone into Trump’s cash registers as Secret Service agents, presidential aides and White House officials accompany the president when he visits his properties, the Huffington Post reported.

The exact amount, however, cannot be determined because the White House does not reveal the number of aides and staff who stay at Trump’s hotels and golf courses.

Trump, who was impeached Wednesday by the House of Representatives over abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, made his 227th visit as president to one of his golf courses in Florida.

While running for president, Trump repeatedly criticized then-President Barack Obama for playing too much golf, promising that, if elected, he would not play any golf at all.

However, Trump has set records for the number of days a president has spent golfing while in office.

If Trump continues playing golf at this rate, he will have played in just one term more than Obama did over the entire eight years of his presidency.

In contrast to Trump who primarily goes to resorts in New Jersey and Florida to play golf, Obama typically took trips to golf courses on military bases just a short drive from the White House.

That makes Trump’s travel and security expenses much higher than those of his predecessor.  

Trump has also visited his sprawling golf clubs in Turnberry, Scotland; and Doonbeg, Ireland — all on the taxpayer dime.


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