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Trump Criticized for Golfing Amid Iran War
President's pastime choice during Middle East conflict raises concerns from political analysts
Mar. 28, 2026 at 6:33pm
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Former President Donald Trump has faced criticism from political analysts and opponents for continuing to play golf at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida while the war in Iran rages on. Trump recently approved a series of strikes on Iran, joining Israel in bombing runs, but his contradictory messaging and frequent golf outings have inflamed supporters and drawn ire from critics who believe he is not taking the serious situation seriously enough.
Why it matters
Trump's love of golf is well-known, but the optics of the president hitting the links while the country is at war raises questions about his priorities and commitment to the conflict. The high costs of Trump's golf outings, estimated at over $140 million during his second term alone, have also drawn scrutiny from those who believe the funds could be better spent on national defense or other priorities.
The details
A White House Pool report confirmed that on March 28, Trump's motorcade left Mar-a-Lago and dropped him off at Trump International Golf Course at 9:02 am. Majority Democrats responded to the news by dubbing it 'The Golf War,' while fellow Trump critic Aaron Rupar added, 'While the country is at war, Trump is golfing.' According to the Donald Trump Golf Tracker, the president has played golf a total of 101 times across the 433 days of his second term, at an estimated cost of $141 million.
- On March 28, Trump's motorcade left Mar-a-Lago and dropped him off at Trump International Golf Course at 9:02 am.
The players
Donald Trump
The former president of the United States who has faced criticism for continuing to play golf while the war in Iran rages on.
Aaron Rupar
A Trump critic who commented on the president's decision to golf while the country is at war.
What they’re saying
“The Golf War.”
— Majority Democrats
“While the country is at war, Trump is golfing.”
— Aaron Rupar, Trump critic
The takeaway
Trump's frequent golf outings during a time of war raise concerns about his priorities and commitment to addressing the serious situation in Iran. The high costs of these golf trips, estimated at over $140 million during his second term, have also drawn scrutiny from those who believe the funds could be better spent on national defense or other pressing issues.
