Donald Trump has already put his stamp on the White House, launched work on a new ballroom, and pursued ambitious plans to reshape Washington. Now, he has another idea for the legacy he leaves behind, and this one is taking shape on a golf course in Florida.
Trump is proposing that his Trump International Golf Club near West Palm Beach become a permanent U.S. Presidential Golf Course, potentially serving presidents from both parties long after he leaves office.
The proposal would also open the property to past and future presidents and visiting foreign heads of state, turning one of Trump’s private business properties into something with a potentially unprecedented role in presidential affairs.
A new kind of presidential legacy idea
Presidential libraries and historic sites are common ways former presidents preserve their legacies. Trump is proposing something different: a working golf course that could be available to past, current, and future U.S. presidents and visiting foreign heads of state.
Palm Beach County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo called the proposal a potentially “remarkable and historic opportunity.” He said communities compete for the history, prestige and economic impact associated with permanent presidential institutions. However, no official designation or authorization to use the presidential seal has been announced.
What Trump is actually offering
Trump is proposing that Trump International Golf Club in the West Palm Beach area be designated as a U.S. Presidential Golf Course. The Trump family owns the golf club, while the property itself sits on land leased from Palm Beach County.
According to the proposal, federal officials would receive access to the club’s facilities at no cost to the federal government. The club would also work with the General Services Administration and U.S. Secret Service on an appropriate presidential lodging facility and would cover the cost of constructing that lodging.
The letter describes the proposal as a gift intended for Trump’s successors and says he would be out of office before the proposed project could be completed.
How the proposal reached county leaders
The proposal was outlined in a Sept. 3 letter from attorney Harvey Oyer to Palm Beach County commissioners. Attorney Harvey Oyer sent the document to Palm Beach County commissioners on the club’s behalf. The Palm Beach Post obtained and reported on the letter.
It described the course as ready to be used by past, current, and future presidents alike. Visiting foreign dignitaries were also named as potential guests under the arrangement. The language echoed the tone of a formal civic donation rather than a business pitch.
County Administrator Joe Abruzzo responded with a public statement soon after the letter surfaced. He called the offer a potentially remarkable and historic opportunity for the region. His comments suggested county leaders are taking the proposal seriously rather than dismissing it.
Presidents who gave land before him
The proposal draws comparisons with presidential properties that later became nationally preserved historic sites. Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower donated their Gettysburg home and farm to the National Park Service in 1967, after Eisenhower had left the presidency.
Franklin D. Roosevelt also transferred portions of his Hyde Park estate to the federal government during his lifetime, subject to life-estate arrangements, and the property became part of the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.
Marjorie Merriweather Post donated Mar-a-Lago to the federal government after her death, hoping it could serve as a presidential retreat. The federal government later returned the property to the Post Foundation, and it eventually returned to private ownership.
A lease with a complicated history
Trump International is owned by the Trump family but sits on land leased from Palm Beach County. The club operates on county-leased land under an agreement stemming from a dispute involving the airport. That deal settled a legal dispute over airport noise near his private estate.
Records show the organization paying more than $88,000 each month for the lease. That adds up to over $1 million in annual payments to the county. The arrangement has continued for decades with little public controversy until now.
County officials have previously examined legal questions surrounding the lease. Officials determined there was no legal basis because the contract lacked a bad-behavior clause. That finding kept the long-term agreement firmly in place.
Money, business ties, and open questions
Financial disclosures show the golf club generated significant income for Trump last year. Trump’s financial disclosure reported more than $36.9 million in revenue from the golf club. His nearby Mar-a-Lago club also generated tens of millions of dollars in reported revenue.
Those figures have fueled questions about mixing presidential legacy with an active business. Critics may ask whether federal recognition could boost the club’s prestige and value. Supporters counter that public access and no cost to taxpayers offset those concerns.
The debate reflects a broader pattern of blending Trump’s business interests with his public role. Similar questions have followed other ventures tied to his time in office. The golf course proposal adds another chapter to that ongoing discussion.
Reactions from local officials so far
Abruzzo compared the potential course to the prestige surrounding presidential libraries nationwide. He noted that such landmarks bring history and economic impact to their host communities. A permanent golf course could offer similar benefits while staying active and usable.
He also pointed to practical advantages tied to the club’s location and setup. The site sits near Palm Beach International Airport, which simplifies travel logistics. The proposal also points to the property’s location and existing facilities as potential advantages.
Abruzzo framed the offer as a mix of generosity and long-term vision. He said the plan could serve the country for generations if it moves forward. His remarks signal openness even as many procedural questions remain unanswered.
What happens next for the plan
The proposal remains under consideration, and no final agreement has been announced. Palm Beach County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo said county officials will examine the proposal under the direction of the Board of County Commissioners while working with Trump’s team and appropriate federal agencies.
The review could involve questions about the property’s future use, security, lodging, and long-term responsibilities. Those details have not yet been publicly finalized.
For now, the proposal remains an offer rather than an official designation. Further discussions with county and federal officials will determine whether the idea moves forward.
Little-known fact: Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach was the first golf course in Trump’s portfolio and opened in 1999.
TL;DR
- Trump has proposed designating the Trump International Golf Club in the West Palm Beach area as a U.S. Presidential Golf Course.
- The proposal says past, current, and future U.S. presidents, along with visiting foreign heads of state, could use the property, with access to club facilities offered at no cost to the federal government.
- The proposal draws comparisons to presidential properties associated with Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower and Franklin D. Roosevelt that were federally preserved as historic sites.
- The Trump family owns the golf club, while the property sits on land leased from Palm Beach County.
- Palm Beach County officials have called the proposal a potentially “remarkable and historic opportunity,” but no final agreement has been announced.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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