The $2.7 Billion Golf Cart: A Taxpayer's Guide to Presidential Waste, Fraud & Abuse
Or: Stop Worrying and Love Paying for Someone Else's Mar-a-Lago Weekend
The TL;DR for Busy Taxpayers Who Just Want to Know How Much They Got Fleeced
Short answer: A lot.
Long answer: Holy moly, A LOT.
Look, I know what you're thinking. "Another boring government spending report? Pass the remote, I'd rather watch paint dry." But stick with me here, because this isn't your typical bureaucratic snoozefest. This is the story of how one man turned the entire federal government into his personal Venmo account, and spoiler alert: you're the one paying.
Chapter 1: The Great Golf Course Grift
Let's start with the obvious stuff. You know how normal people take vacations and, like, pay for them? Well, apparently that's for peasants. Our boy managed to rack up $144 million in travel costs during his four-year term.
To put that in perspective: Obama spent $105 million over eight years. Bush Jr. spent $140 million over eight years. Trump said "hold my Diet Coke" and nearly matched Bush's entire two-term spending in half the time.
The Math That'll Make You Cry:
Four trips to Mar-a-Lago in early 2017: $13.6 million
Average cost per Mar-a-Lago trip: $3.38 million
Golf trips in first 2.5 years: $102 million
One weekend in Scotland: $1.1 million
But here's where it gets really spicy. Remember how Eric Trump claimed they only charged the government "like $50" for rooms? Plot twist: They were actually charging Secret Service agents $1,185 per night at the DC hotel. The government rate is $201. That's like ordering a McDonald's hamburger and getting charged steakhouse prices, except the steakhouse is owned by the guy ordering the burger.
The Irony Alert: The Secret Service had to pay nearly $2 million to Trump properties just for the privilege of protecting the guy who owned them. It's like being forced to tip your own mugger.
Chapter 2: The Post-Presidential Payment Plan (AKA "The Grift That Keeps on Giving")
You'd think leaving office would end the money train, right? Wrong.
In his first year out of office, Secret Service protection cost taxpayers $1.3 million just in hotels and transportation. And get this – he still charged them $40,000 for rooms at Mar-a-Lago. Because nothing says "public service" like continuing to bill the taxpayers after you're unemployed.
But wait, there's more! In a move that would make a pyramid scheme founder blush, he extended Secret Service protection to all five of his adult children AND three former officials for an extra six months. Cost to taxpayers? $1.7 million.
Oh, and those two advisors who needed protection from Iranian threats? $12.28 million for nearly a year. Because apparently when you're really good at foreign policy, foreign countries want to have very intense conversations with your staff.
Chapter 3: Legal Bills or "How to Make Taxpayers Fund Your Midlife Crisis"
Now we get to the really fun part – the legal costs. Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation alone has cost taxpayers over $50 million. That's $50 million to investigate whether classified documents should maybe not be stored next to the pool chlorine at a Florida resort. Wild concept, I know.
But here's the kicker – there have been 328 lawsuits filed against various Trump administration actions. Three hundred and twenty-eight! That's like getting a speeding ticket every single day for almost a year, except instead of $100 fines, we're talking millions in legal defense costs.
Fun Georgia Fact: There's now a law that could make Fulton County taxpayers cover Trump's legal bills if the charges get dismissed for prosecutorial misconduct. His bill there? $4.2 million. Nothing says "fiscal responsibility" like potentially making local taxpayers pay for a billionaire's legal defense.
Chapter 4: January 6th – The $2.7 Billion Tantrum
Remember that "peaceful" day at the Capitol? Well, it turns out tantrums are expensive. The Government Accountability Office puts the total cost at $2.7 billion. With a B.
Let me break that down:
Direct property damage: $3 million (honestly, cheaper than expected for a government building renovation)
Emergency security funding: $891 million
Heightened security afterward: $519 million
The rest: Various operational costs that would make an accountant weep
But here's the real cherry on this debt sundae: Trump pardoned over 1,500 January 6th defendants, which means they no longer have to pay restitution for the damage they caused. Before the pardons, only $437,000 of the nearly $3 million in restitution had been paid. Now? Zero dollars and zero cents, because apparently "law and order" has payment plans.
Some of these pardoned folks are now asking for refunds on restitution they already paid. Because nothing says "personal responsibility" like getting your riot damage deposit back.
Chapter 5: The Emoluments Clause (Or "The Constitution is Just a Suggestion, Right?")
Here's where things get constitutionally spicy. The Constitution has this weird rule about presidents not being allowed to receive money from foreign governments. Crazy, right?
Well, Trump's businesses received at least $7.8 million from officials and governments of 20 countries during his presidency. The report only covered two years, so this is probably the "we only counted the visible tip of the iceberg" number.
The Department of Defense alone spent $974,000 at Trump properties. Because nothing says "military readiness" like making sure the golf course gets paid.
Political committees have spent $23.2 million at Trump properties since 2015, with $676,457 just since the 2024 election. It's like a loyalty program, except the loyalty is to your wallet and the program never ends.
Chapter 6: The Big Picture (Spoiler: It's Expensive)
Let's zoom out and look at the fiscal record:
Added $3.9 trillion to projected national debt
Signed $7.8 trillion in new spending over a decade (in just four years!)
2020 budget deficit: $3 trillion (14.9% of GDP – the highest since WWII)
His tariffs cost the average American household $4,600 per year. That's like a reverse stimulus check that goes on forever.
State and local governments in 12 states face $3.4 billion per year in additional costs from these tariffs. Because why should the federal government have all the fun of higher expenses?
The Grand Total (Or "How Much Is This Costing Me, Exactly?")
Here's the thing about government accounting – getting an exact total is like trying to count grains of sand during a hurricane. But we can ballpark it:
The Definitely Confirmed Costs:
Travel and security: ~$160+ million
Legal investigations: $50+ million
January 6th response: $2.7 billion
Secret Service at Trump properties: $2+ million
The "We Know It's Big But Can't Pin Down Exact Numbers" Costs:
Defending 328+ lawsuits: Millions upon millions
Lost restitution from pardons: $2.6+ million
Emoluments violations: $7.8+ million (and that's just what we know about)
The "Your Grandkids Will Still Be Paying This" Costs:
Added national debt: $3.9 trillion
Annual tariff costs: $4,600 per household
The Bottom Line (Pun Absolutely Intended)
Look, I get it. Government waste isn't exactly shocking news. Politicians spending taxpayer money on dumb stuff is like saying water is wet or that airline food is terrible – it's just a fact of life.
But this isn't your garden-variety political waste. This is industrial-strength, weapons-grade fiscal irresponsibility with a side of constitutional violations and a garnish of "rules are for other people."
The beautiful irony? This comes from the guy who campaigned on being a successful businessman who would run government like a business. Well, mission accomplished – if by "like a business," you meant "a business where the customers pay all the bills but the owner gets all the profits."
Facts don't care about your feelings, as a certain someone likes to say. And the facts are pretty clear: one way or another, you paid for this. All of it. Every golf cart ride, every overpriced hotel room, every legal brief, every broken Capitol window, and every security camera.
The good news? At least now you know where your tax dollars went. The bad news? Well... gestures broadly at everything above.
But hey, look on the bright side – at least somebody had a good time with your money.
Sources: This breakdown is based on data from government accountability offices, congressional reports, and various oversight organizations. All figures cited are from official documents and reports, because unlike some people, we actually check our sources.
Subscribe for more riveting tales of government fiscal responsibility! Next week: "Why Your Potholes Aren't Fixed But Someone's Golf Course Looks Great"
//Peace
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this is disguising. the amount of $ is so beyond actual comprehension irl.
As my Grandma would say: Holy Shit!!
Thank you for giving it to us straight and simple. This is absolutely disgusting.
Just wondering where all this stuff is in the budget every year? Like what lines in the budget?
Not that any of our Congressional reps really look at it for the most part. I know the Republicans don't even read these budget bills until after they sign off on it. WTAF.