Trump Aims to Transform West Palm Beach Golf Club Into Camp David

WHO:

The Washington Post - Trump is the individual proposing the transformation of the golf club.

WHAT:

Fast Company - Trump is offering to designate his Trump International Golf Club as a “U.S. Presidential Golf Course,” which would be utilized by all past, current, and future United States Presidents and visiting foreign heads of state.

Fast Company - The golf course opened in 1999 and is about 5 miles west of Mar-a-Lago, just south of the airport previously known as the Palm Beach International Airport, which was renamed the President Donald J. Trump International Airport on July 9.

Fast Company - The proposal includes security upgrades and improvements, which the letter states Trump International Golf Club already has.

Fast Company - The presidential designation could allow the course to use the presidential seal.

ABC News - Trump stated that the proposal for the retreat would allow for “quiet weekends on the greens” for future presidents and their guests.

ABC News - Trump noted that the golf course is “close to an airport” and has “some distance from residential homes and tall buildings,” which pose security risks.

ABC News - An attorney representing the golf course, Harvey Oyer, mentioned that the proposal is a “gift that the President would like to share with his successors, the people of America, and his fellow Palm Beach County residents.”

ABC News - Oyer's letter stated that the West Palm Beach golf course could be used by “current and former presidents, along with visiting foreign heads of state.”

ABC News - The proposal includes the club paying to build a new presidential lodging and working with the Secret Service to provide free access to the federal government.

ABC News - Oyer highlighted that past U.S. presidents, such as Dwight Eisenhower and Franklin D. Roosevelt, donated land for public use.

ABC News - Trump stated, “It’s a great idea, and it’ll be used a lot,” regarding the proposed retreat.

NBC News - The club’s attorney mentioned that the proposal would designate Trump’s club as the “permanent United States Presidential Golf Course.”

ABC News - The proposal has already been submitted to local officials for consideration.

ABC News - Trump’s golf course was the site of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on him in 2024, where an armed man was arrested after being spotted by a Secret Service agent.

ABC News - The attorney representing the golf course, Harvey Oyer, stated that the West Palm Beach golf course could be used by current and former presidents, along with visiting foreign heads of state.

ABC News - Palm Beach County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo expressed eagerness to explore the “historic opportunity” the proposal could bring to the community.

ABC News - Trump described the proposed retreat as “sort of a Camp David” that would already have many of the security features needed to host presidents and world leaders.

ABC News - Trump claimed the idea for the retreat was suggested by the United States Secret Service, stating, “It seems that all presidents play golf.”

ABC News - The proposal includes building a new presidential lodging and providing free access to the federal government, with a separate entrance from the private club.

ABC News - The Trump Organization earned nearly $37 million during Trump's first year back in office, according to his financial disclosure.

ABC News - An attorney representing the golf course stated that the proposal is a “gift that the President would like to share with his successors, the people of America, and his fellow Palm Beach County residents.”

ABC News - The attorney highlighted past U.S. presidents who donated land for public use, including Dwight Eisenhower and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

NBC News - The proposed deal would make Trump’s club the “permanent United States Presidential Golf Course,” which could be used “by all past, current and future” presidents, according to the club’s attorney.

CBS News Politics - It is not yet clear what the taxpayer benefit would be for the proposed transformation of the golf course, or how much it would cost.

The Washington Post - Trump aims to turn his West Palm Beach golf club into a facility similar to Camp David, the presidential retreat.

WHERE:

The Washington Post - The location of the proposed transformation is Trump's golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

WHY:

Fast Company - The proposal represents an effort to expand Trump’s presence and cement his legacy in Palm Beach County.

ABC News - The proposal aims to create a retreat for future presidents and their guests, which would intertwine the presidency with Trump's business ventures beyond his time in office.

The Washington Post - The motivation behind the proposal is to create a new retreat for presidential activities, akin to Camp David.

HOW:

Fast Company - Under the proposal, Trump’s family company would provide all access to the golf course and facilities at no cost to the federal government, while continuing to operate it.

ABC News - The retreat would have a separate entrance from the private club.

The Washington Post - The transformation involves repurposing the existing golf club facilities to serve as a presidential retreat.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 11:00 UTC)

Trump is proposing to designate his Trump International Golf Club as a “U.S. Presidential Golf Course,” which would be available for use by all past, current, and future presidents, as well as visiting foreign heads of state. The golf course, which opened in 1999 and is located about five miles west of Mar-a-Lago, already has security upgrades and improvements in place, and the presidential designation could allow it to use the presidential seal. Under this proposal, Trump’s family company would manage the golf course and facilities at no cost to the federal government while maintaining operations.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 10:05 UTC)

Trump has proposed a new retreat at a West Palm Beach golf course that he believes would offer “quiet weekends on the greens” for future presidents and their guests. His attorney, Harvey Oyer, described the proposal as a “gift” intended for successors, the American people, and local residents, emphasizing that the golf course could serve both current and former presidents, as well as visiting foreign heads of state. The plan also includes the club financing a new presidential lodging and collaborating with the Secret Service to ensure free access for the federal government, with a separate entrance designated for the retreat.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 05:04 UTC)

Trump has expressed enthusiasm for a new proposal that would designate his golf club as the "permanent United States Presidential Golf Course," calling it “a great idea” that will be widely utilized. The proposal has already been submitted to local officials for consideration, and the club's attorney noted that it could serve current and former presidents, as well as visiting foreign heads of state. Palm Beach County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo has also shown eagerness to explore the potential "historic opportunity" this proposal could bring to the community.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 01:33 UTC)

Trump has proposed a new retreat that he describes as “sort of a Camp David,” complete with security features suitable for hosting presidents and world leaders, a concept he claims was suggested by the United States Secret Service. The plan includes building a presidential lodging with free access for the federal government and a separate entrance from the private club, and an attorney for the golf course has called it a “gift that the President would like to share with his successors and the people of America.” This initiative aims to create a retreat for future presidents and their guests, intertwining the presidency with Trump's business ventures even after his time in office.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 00:00 UTC)

A proposed deal could designate Trump’s club as the “permanent United States Presidential Golf Course,” allowing access for all past, current, and future presidents. This information comes from the club’s attorney, who outlined the plan during a recent announcement. If approved, this deal would create a unique legacy for the club in the realm of presidential history.

(UPDATED October 7, 2026 23:02 UTC)

CBS News Politics reports that there is currently uncertainty regarding the taxpayer benefits associated with the proposed transformation of the golf course. Additionally, the cost of this project has not yet been disclosed. As discussions continue, more information is expected to emerge about the potential impact on the community.

(UPDATED October 7, 2026 22:05 UTC)

Trump is proposing to transform his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, into a facility similar to Camp David, the presidential retreat. The motivation behind this proposal is to create a new retreat for presidential activities. This transformation will involve repurposing the existing golf club facilities to serve as a presidential retreat.