Palm Beach County Weighs Trump's Presidential Golf Retreat

By Staff Writer

September 23, 2026

2 min read

Key takeaways

Trump has offered to designate Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach County, Florida, as a "U.S. Presidential Golf Course."
The offer, outlined in a Sept. 3 letter from Trump's attorney Harvey Oyer, was first disclosed by the Palm Beach Post.
Trump International would build the lodging and cover the cost as a gift, with no charge to the federal government.
Palm Beach County has directed staff to explore the proposal, but commissioners say key details remain unresolved.

Palm Beach County officials have directed staff to look into an offer from President Donald Trump to build a Camp David-style retreat at Trump International Golf Club, according to a letter first reported by the Palm Beach Post. County Administrator Joe Abruzzo called the proposal a "remarkable and historic opportunity."

What is Trump offering?

Under the plan outlined in the Sept. 3 letter, Trump International would provide access to the club's facilities at no cost to the federal government and work with the General Services Administration and Secret Service to design a Presidential lodging area on the property. Trump International would pay for construction itself, with the letter describing the facility as a gift to "the people of America, and his fellow Palm Beach County residents."

The devil is in the details.

The club sits on land the Trump family leases from the county, a arrangement stemming from the settlement of an earlier lawsuit Trump filed against the airport formerly known as Palm Beach International, which the state renamed for Trump in July. Attorney Harvey Oyer said no cost estimate exists yet and the lodging's exact location on the property has not been determined, since several federal agencies still need to weigh in.

What do county commissioners say?

Reaction has been mixed but generally open. Commissioner Maria Sachs called the potential economic impact "very positive," while Commissioner Joel Flores said, "The devil is in the details. We need to make sure there is no cost to the county." Flores also raised concerns about how a permanent retreat could affect flight patterns nearby. Commissioner Gregg Weiss said the proposal is "worth exploring" but wants more information about the underlying lease before the county moves forward.

Discussions are only beginning, and it is considered unlikely the facility would be completed before Trump leaves office. The Palm Beach County Commission will ultimately decide whether the project proceeds.