Trump Proposes Developing Private Golf Course into Presidential Retreat
The former president's plan would create a Camp David-like facility at his West Palm Beach property.
Former President Donald Trump has proposed transforming one of his private golf courses in West Palm Beach, Florida, into a presidential retreat for future U.S. leaders, envisioning a facility akin to the official Camp David.
Trump stated that the property already possesses many of the necessary security features for hosting presidents and world leaders, suggesting the idea originated from the U.S. Secret Service. "It seems that all presidents play golf," Trump remarked during an unrelated event. The proposal has been submitted to local officials.
The potential retreat, located at the Trump International Golf Club, is a short drive from Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. Trump highlighted the property's proximity to an airport and its distance from residential areas and tall buildings, factors that mitigate security risks. Notably, this golf club was the site of an attempted assassination attempt on Trump in 2024, during which an armed man was apprehended near the club's perimeter fence.
Historically, presidents have utilized Camp David, a government-owned compound in Maryland, for weekend retreats and official meetings. Trump, however, has frequently opted for his private properties, including golf clubs in Florida, New Jersey, and Virginia, during his presidency.
This initiative is among several projects Trump has pursued to leave his mark on presidential infrastructure. Previous endeavors include plans for a White House ballroom, a gilded Oval Office, a triumphal arch, renovations to the Kennedy Center and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and the redevelopment of a golf course in East Potomac Park. He is also planning a presidential library in a Miami skyscraper.
A letter submitted by an attorney representing the golf course to Palm Beach County commissioners proposed designating the West Palm Beach location as a "U.S. Presidential Golf Course." The attorney, Harvey Oyer, stated, "Just as Camp David, Windsor Castle, or the Elysée Palace are known worldwide, so too will the Presidential Golf Course in Palm Beach County."
Palm Beach County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo expressed enthusiasm for the proposal, calling it a "historic opportunity" that could "further cement Palm Beach County’s place on the national and international stage."
The plan, as outlined in Oyer's letter, would allow current and former presidents, as well as visiting heads of state, to use the facility. The Trump Organization owns the golf club but leases the land from the county, which must approve any modifications. Under the proposal, the club would fund the construction of new presidential lodging and collaborate with federal agencies to grant free access to the government. The retreat would feature a separate entrance from the private club.
Oyer emphasized that the project would be a "gift to his successors," as Trump would be out of office before its completion. He drew parallels to past presidents who donated land for public use, citing Dwight Eisenhower's donation of his Gettysburg farm and Franklin D. Roosevelt's contribution to his Hyde Park estate.
Mar-a-Lago itself was previously considered as a "Winter White House." The estate, originally left to the National Park Service by Marjorie Merriweather Post, was returned to her estate due to high maintenance costs before Trump acquired it in 1985 and later established it as his primary residence.