Trump Proposes Turning His Florida Golf Club Into a Camp David-Style Presidential Retreat

US President Donald Trump has floated the idea of establishing a presidential retreat modeled on Camp David at his own Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, according to comments he made on Wednesday. The proposal would see the club cover construction costs as what Trump described as a "gift" to the American people, while also offering free memberships to future presidents and accommodations for visiting foreign dignitaries. Trump argued that the club's proximity to an airport — roughly two minutes away — would make it convenient for weekend retreats, comparing the concept directly to the long-standing presidential getaway in Maryland.

The idea, if realized, would represent a striking departure from the character of Camp David, which began as a rustic encampment in the woods built for federal employees during the Great Depression. Camp David officially operates as Naval Support Facility, Thurmont, and is staffed entirely by uniformed members of the US Navy and Marine Corps. It sits deep within Catoctin Mountain Park in Frederick County, Maryland, and was first adopted as a presidential retreat by Franklin Roosevelt, who gave it the nickname "Shangri-La." Over the decades, it has hosted national security meetings and high-stakes diplomatic summits, including a 2023 trilateral gathering with the leaders of Japan and South Korea during Joe Biden's presidency.

By contrast, Trump International Golf Club is a 27-hole course and club that promotes itself as offering "a lively social scene" and fine dining. It features a luxurious clubhouse, a gift store, and regularly hosts social events for its members. The property is connected to the rest of West Palm Beach by ample roadways, some of which are frequently lined with supporters or protesters when the president is in residence. Trump's political allies are known to visit the club often during his many weekends in Florida, making it a familiar backdrop for his presidency.

Trump's argument that the golf club location is "secure" is notable given his recent pattern of invoking national security and safety justifications for various projects in Washington, DC. Those include a ballroom project at the White House and a planned triumphal arch elsewhere in the capital. He told reporters that the absence of high buildings and homes looming nearby was an advantage, explaining that "you don't have ... people hiding behind windows," which he said would allow for maximum safety. "They can get maximum safety," the president said. "It's a great idea and it'll be used a lot."

The president also said that Secret Service officials first suggested the idea of using the golf club as a presidential retreat, and that he considers it "a great idea." He described the location as "about as safe as they could possibly get." The BBC has contacted the Secret Service for comment on the matter. A letter dated 3 September from the golf course's attorney was referenced in the source material, though the article text cuts off before detailing its contents.

When asked by reporters whether he would name the new retreat "Camp Donald," Trump demurred, noting that the property is already called Trump International. He went on to praise it as "one of the best golf courses in the world," reinforcing his personal attachment to the site. The remarks suggest that any formal retreat would retain its existing branding rather than adopt a new presidential name in the tradition of Camp David.

Camp David itself is a highly controlled environment. The secure facility is largely hidden from public view, with Marines guarding its perimeter and restricted airspace above it. It does not appear on maps of the national park, even though its location is known to locals. The press is only very rarely allowed on the grounds, meaning photographs of the wood and stone cabins and lodges that make up most of the facility are tightly managed. During a recent visit by the BBC, reporters in the White House press pool were under strict instructions to avoid taking images in unauthorized areas or disclosing details about the camp's layout.

The rustic, secluded nature of Camp David has long been central to its appeal as a place where presidents can escape the pressures of Washington while still conducting official business in privacy. It has served as a venue for intense diplomatic negotiations and quiet strategy sessions alike. A shift to a golf club setting in Florida would alter not only the aesthetics of the presidential retreat but also its symbolic role, trading wooded isolation for a bustling social and commercial environment that is closely tied to Trump's personal and political brand.

Trump has already sought to cement his legacy through significant changes to the White House, including gilded gold leaf accents in the Oval Office, the demolition of the East Wing, and the construction of a ballroom. He is also pushing ahead with plans to erect a massive triumphal arch elsewhere in Washington. The retreat proposal fits within this broader pattern of reshaping presidential spaces and traditions in ways that reflect his personal style and priorities.

If the plan comes to fruition, it would mark another tradition transformed by Trump. The contrast between a rustic, military-run mountain camp and a posh Florida golf resort could hardly be sharper, raising questions about what a presidential retreat is meant to represent. Supporters might see it as a practical, secure, and cost-free alternative; critics could view it as an unprecedented blending of private business interests with the functions of the presidency. Either way, the proposal adds another chapter to the ongoing debate over how Trump uses his properties and how those properties intersect with his official duties.