Donald Trump Proposes Camp David-Style Presidential Retreat at Florida Golf Club

President Donald Trump announced a proposal to transform his private golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, into an official presidential retreat modeled after Camp David. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump stated that the retreat would serve future commanders-in-chief and foreign dignitaries, arguing that the site already features essential security infrastructure and is situated safely away from tall buildings and residential clusters near an airport.\n\nUnder the plan submitted to Palm Beach County commissioners, the Trump Organization would fund the construction of dedicated presidential lodging, providing free access to the federal government via a private entrance. Trump attorney Harvey Oyer described the project as a lasting gift to the nation, writing, "Just as Camp David, Windsor Castle, or the Elysée Palace are known worldwide, so too will the Presidential Golf Course in Palm Beach County." Financial disclosures show the private club generated nearly $37 million during Trump's first year back in office.\n\nHistorically, American presidents have utilized Camp David, a secluded naval support facility in rural Maryland, for weekend respites and diplomatic summits. While past presidents like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Franklin D. Roosevelt donated private estates to the public, Trump's plan involves property leased from Palm Beach County by his private company. The site was notably the location of an attempted assassination against Trump in 2024, when an armed suspect was captured along the club's perimeter.\n\nPalm Beach County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo welcomed the plan, calling it a historic opportunity that could cement the region's profile on the world stage for generations. Because the county owns the underlying land, local authorities must review and approve any structural changes to the lease. The proposal arrives amid several architectural and legacy initiatives initiated by Trump, including proposals for a White House ballroom, monuments, and a future presidential library in Miami.