In August 2016, Donald Trump said: “I’m going to be working for you.
I’m not going to have time to go play golf.”
But three years into his presidency, stats tell us that the president has spent one in five days playing golf.
According to CNN, the president has spent 252 days at one of his golf courses and another 333 days at a Trump property since he has become the president.
That’s not only a president on leave, the golfing of the president has also cost the American public a hefty $115 million.
Even though he’s been impeached by the House and is going to face a trial by the Senate in January, Trump spent Christmas and New Year playing golf at his private estates.
In 2019 alone, the president spent 86 days playing golf.
He very proudly boasts that he is not drawing a salary from the federal budget but he has already spent as much as 287 years’ salary on his outings and golf.
Trump went on a visit to his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach for New Year celebrations.
Whenever the president visits his own properties for golfing, all the expense is covered by the national budget which is equivalent of channeling taxpayer money into his own coffers.
Trump’s visits to his golf courses are financially covered by the president’s transport and safety budget.
His favorite destinations include Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, his golf club in Bedminister, New Jersey, Trump National Doral just outside Miami and Trump International Doonbeg in Ireland.
The presidential visits include massive media coverage which serves as a source of promotion and exposure for Trump’s estates on the nation’s expense.
All these visits are a violation of the American constitution’s emolument clause that says that the president is not supposed to accept any favor beyond his salary from the government of any state as well as the central government.
Jordan Libowitz, a representative of the Washington-based advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, said: “It’s becoming abundantly clear that Donald Trump uses his presidency as a way to put money into his pocket.
“The issue isn’t that he likes golf. The issue is that he has spent a huge amount of his presidency making promotional appearances at his struggling golf courses, and leaving taxpayers to foot the bill.”
Trump never lets any chance of hanging out at one of his properties on national expense go.
Upon being asked about his holiday’s plan, the president said: “I’m at a place called Mar-a-Lago, we call it the southern White House.
“I really pretty much work. That’s what I like to do.”
Due to such statements from the president, businessmen and lobbyists are encouraged to stay at his estates in the hope of getting a chance to see the president and ask for his help in their personal matters.
Trump openly criticized Obama for playing golf while he was in office. In one of his rallies in New Hampshire, he said: “I mean he’s played more golf than most people on the PGA Tour, this guy.
“What is it, over 300 rounds? Hey, look, it’s good. The golf is fine. But always play with leaders of countries and people that can help us! Don’t play with your friends all the time.”
Trump was playing golf at one of his estates while the American army executed the attack in Baghdad this week.
He was also enjoying golf at the Trump National Golf Club when the US East Coast was devastated by Dorian, the category five hurricane.
Replaced!