President Trump has proposed turning a portion of his West Palm Beach golf club into a Camp David‑style presidential retreat, according to reports from The Independent. The plan would designate part of the Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach as a U.S. Presidential Golf Course for use by current, former and future presidents, and would also host foreign leaders.
A letter from the club’s lawyer, Harvey Oyer, sent to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners in September, outlined the proposal. It states that the Trump Organization would finance a lodging facility to be built in cooperation with the General Services Administration and the Secret Service. Oyer described the project as a gift for successors, the American public and local residents, noting that Trump would be out of office before the project’s completion. The name of the proposed course has not yet been chosen.
White House sources say the site already meets the security requirements needed for a presidential retreat. The property is close to the Donald J. Trump International Airport, has no surrounding houses or tall buildings, is near law‑enforcement facilities, and is a highly rated golf course. These features, officials say, mirror those of Camp David, the 125‑acre Maryland retreat used for cabinet meetings and foreign visits.
Palm Beach County officials are reviewing the proposal. County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo said the county would work with the Board of County Commissioners, President Trump’s team, professional staff and federal agencies to assess the opportunity. The plan would involve the county granting the legal right to the specified land, after which a lease would be arranged with the appropriate federal agency. The proposal echoes past discussions about Mar‑a‑Lago, which was once willed to the National Park Service but later returned to the foundation due to maintenance costs. The Independent has sought comment from the county and the Trump Organization.
