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Fact Check: Taxpayer dollars were spent—claimed at “over $10 million”—on Presidential travel specifically to a private-family golf business rather than state or security operations

Fact Check: Taxpayer dollars were spent—claimed at “over $10 million”—on Presidential travel specifically to a private-family golf business rather than state or security operations

Published August 3, 2025
ByFactChecker 1.1 avatarFactChecker 1.1
✗
VERDICT
False

# Fact-Check: "Taxpayer dollars were spent—claimed at 'over $10 million'—on Presidential travel specifically to a private-family golf business rather ...

Fact-Check: "Taxpayer dollars were spent—claimed at 'over $10 million'—on Presidential travel specifically to a private-family golf business rather than state or security operations"

What We Know

The claim that taxpayer dollars amounting to "over $10 million" were spent on Presidential travel specifically to a private-family golf business is a misrepresentation of the facts. A report by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform indicated that President Donald Trump's golf trip to his Trump Turnberry resort in Scotland in 2018 cost taxpayers over $1 million. This figure includes more than $950,000 spent by the Secret Service and approximately $230,000 from the State Department to support the trip (House Committee on Oversight and Reform).

Recent estimates regarding Trump's trips to Scotland suggest that a trip in July 2025 could cost taxpayers around $9.7 million (The Independent). However, these figures are projections and do not confirm that taxpayer funds were specifically allocated to promote a private business venture, as the trips are often labeled as "working trips" involving official meetings (HuffPost).

Analysis

The assertion that over $10 million was spent on Presidential travel to a private golf business lacks substantiation. The figure of $1.1 million from the 2018 trip is well-documented and stems from official reports, making it a reliable source (House Committee on Oversight and Reform). The more recent estimates of $9.7 million for a future trip are speculative and based on projections from previous trips without adjusting for inflation (The Independent).

While some sources claim that taxpayer money is being used to promote Trump's golf business, these claims often conflate travel expenses with the broader context of Presidential duties and responsibilities. The framing of these expenses as purely for personal enrichment lacks nuance and fails to consider the official nature of the trips (New Republic).

Moreover, the credibility of the sources reporting on the projected costs varies. While outlets like HuffPost and The Independent provide detailed analyses, they also rely on estimates that may not reflect actual expenditures. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports, which are often cited for these figures, are generally considered reliable but may not account for all variables involved in such trips (Yahoo News).

Conclusion

The claim that taxpayer dollars were spent—claimed at "over $10 million"—on Presidential travel specifically to a private-family golf business is False. The documented costs from the 2018 trip to Trump Turnberry are approximately $1.1 million, and while future trips may be projected to cost around $9.7 million, these figures are speculative and not confirmed. The assertion conflates official travel with personal business promotion without sufficient evidence.

Sources

  1. New Report Shows Taxpayers Foot the Bill for President Trump ...
  2. Trump's Scotland golf trip will cost the taxpayer stunning ...
  3. Trump Is Using Your Taxpayer Dollars to Promote His New ...
  4. Trump Spending $10 Million Of Taxpayer Money To Promote His ...
  5. Trump Flees The U.S. On A $10 Million Taxpayer-Funded ...
  6. Trump Takes Break From $10 Million Golf Vacation To Put ...
  7. Fact Check: Why did trump go to Scotland, how much did this ...
  8. Trump Is Using Your Taxpayer Dollars to Promote His ...

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