Trump proposes turning Florida golf club into permanent presidential retreat

On October 7, 2026, President Donald Trump publicly backed a proposal to turn his private Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, into a permanent presidential retreat similar to Camp David. Under the plan submitted to Palm Beach County, the club would fund the construction of presidential lodging while requesting county land transfers to the federal government. While local officials welcomed the prospect, the plan highlights ongoing ethics concerns regarding commercial ventures at Trump properties.

Proposal for West Palm Beach retreat

• ▪The proposed West Palm Beach presidential retreat would feature a separate entrance from the private Trump International Golf Club facility
• ▪Attorney Harvey Oyer stated in a September 2026 letter that the proposed West Palm Beach presidential retreat would be open to all past, current, and future U.S. presidents and visiting heads of state regardless of party affiliation
• ▪President Donald Trump announced on October 7, 2026 a proposal to designate his private Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, as a permanent U.S. presidential retreat
• ▪Under a proposal for a presidential retreat submitted by attorney Harvey Oyer, the Trump International Golf Club would construct a new presidential lodging facility at its own expense for federal government use

Palm Beach County lease considerations

• ▪Palm Beach County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo stated that local officials are eager to explore the historic opportunity presented by the presidential golf course proposal
• ▪The Trump Organization owns the Trump International Golf Club but leases the West Palm Beach land from Palm Beach County, which must approve any property changes

Security justification and history

• ▪President Donald Trump stated on October 7, 2026 that the United States Secret Service and military officials originally suggested the idea of turning the West Palm Beach golf club into a presidential retreat
• ▪A gunman involved in the 2024 assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach was convicted of attempting to kill Donald Trump and sentenced to life in prison
• ▪President Donald Trump and a White House official cited proximity to an airport, lack of nearby tall buildings, and distance from residential homes as key security benefits of the West Palm Beach golf course property
• ▪In 2024, a Secret Service agent spotted an armed man in the perimeter trees of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach while Donald Trump was playing golf

Debatable claims

• ▪Perimeter security vulnerabilities at Trump International Golf Club render it unsuitable as a presidential retreat
• ▪Designating Trump International Golf Club as an official retreat improperly commercializes the presidency
• ▪The proposed West Palm Beach retreat is a legitimate nonpartisan facility for future presidents
• ▪Establishing a Florida presidential golf retreat unnecessarily duplicates Camp David