In 2025, the White House announced a $200 million expansion—a huge new State Ballroom—along with other flashy upgrades. At the same time, President Trump spent many weekends at his own resorts, especially Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster, often golfing and hosting events. Those trips came with big public costs: local police and federal agencies racked up millions for security and travel whenever he visited. Past audits show these Mar-a-Lago trips are especially expensive because of the specialized planes and protection involved. Trump also carried out official business at Mar-a-Lago, which tied government travel and security directly to his luxury properties.
The example content is only intended to illustrate potential uses of the included research, it has not been vetted or cleared for paid distribution.
¶ Major luxury building and makeovers at the White House in 2025
- On July 31, 2025, the White House announced a roughly $200 million, 90,000‑square‑foot “White House State Ballroom,” funded by President Trump and private donors, with construction starting in September 2025 and Secret Service security modifications. (whitehouse.gov)
- Reuters likewise reported the $200 million, 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom would begin construction in September 2025 and was billed as the most significant addition since the Truman era. (reuters.com)
- AP reported the ballroom is the first structural change to the Executive Mansion since the Truman balcony and noted Trump‑ordered touches such as gold flourishes in the Oval Office, twin 88‑foot flagpoles, and a stone‑paved Rose Garden. (abcnews.go.com)
- The Washington Post noted the ballroom will seat about 650 and be privately funded, with East Wing offices temporarily relocated during the work. (washingtonpost.com)
¶ Frequent presidential golf and leisure weekends at Trump‑owned resorts in 2025
- Feb 7: Pool reporters documented Air Force One landing at Palm Beach and the motorcade to Mar‑a‑Lago, with press brought into a Mar‑a‑Lago ballroom. (presidency.ucsb.edu)
- Feb 9: The pool tracked a morning motorcade from Mar‑a‑Lago to Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach; the White House said Trump golfed with Tiger Woods before returning to Mar‑a‑Lago. (presidency.ucsb.edu)
- Feb 18: Pool reports show the motorcade departing Mar‑a‑Lago and arriving at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach. (presidency.ucsb.edu)
- Mar 8: Pool documented the president’s arrival at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach. (presidency.ucsb.edu)
- June 6–8: Pool reports show Trump golfing at Joint Base Andrews en route to New Jersey, arriving and staying at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, and golfing 18 holes there. (presidency.ucsb.edu)
- July 6: The pool again gathered and rolled to Trump National Golf Club Bedminster for presidential movements. (presidency.ucsb.edu)
- Feb 16: AP reported Trump attended the Daytona 500, with Air Force One overflying and landing at Daytona, and his motorcade taking ceremonial laps on the track. (apnews.com)
- Palm Beach County approved $45 million in 2025 for sheriff’s presidential‑security costs connected to Trump’s visits; county officials said it runs roughly $240,000 per day when he is in the county. (wpbf.com)
- A county estimate obtained by WPTV put security costs at about $25.3 million from Nov 11, 2024 to Mar 31, 2025 (roughly $190,000 per day), with additional costs expected thereafter. (wptv.com)
- FEMA’s Presidential Residence Protection Assistance program exists to reimburse state and local agencies for overtime while protecting non‑governmental presidential residences such as Mar‑a‑Lago, underscoring the scale and regularity of these expenses. (fema.gov)
- The nonpartisan GAO found that four Trump trips to Mar‑a‑Lago early in 2017 cost federal taxpayers about $13.6 million (roughly $3.4 million per trip), including about $60,000 paid directly to Mar‑a‑Lago. (docslib.org)
- AP reported two Mar‑a‑Lago weekends cost at least $1.2 million for Air Force One flights alone, excluding Secret Service and other support costs. (apnews.com)
- The Air Force identifies the VC‑25A as the specialized presidential aircraft operated by the 89th Airlift Wing, reflecting the uniquely high operational costs of presidential airlift. (amc.af.mil)
- On Feb 18, 2025, Trump signed an executive order at Mar‑a‑Lago with reporters present under restricted access, confirming official acts at his private club. (wfla.com)
- The same day, the pool schedule circulated by the American Presidency Project showed an executive‑order signing in Palm Beach to be covered by an “expanded” pool. (presidency.ucsb.edu)