Taxpayers Sent Obama on Golf Outing with Tiger Woods for $4 Million

“Thanks, America!” — POTUS

10.27.2016

In 2013, President Obama enjoyed a very special President’s Day weekend in Florida golfing with Tiger Woods at an exclusive resort. Calculating the large team it takes to transport the leader of the free world and keep him safe while he is away from the White House cost taxpayers upward of $4 million.

According to the Government Accountability Office report (which took 20 months to compile), the Department of Defense and Homeland Security spent over $3.6 million in travel costs and other expenses. That includes operating Air Force One ($200,000/hour), plus “supporting aircraft and U.S. Coast Guard small boats ($586,000),” and per diem and other expenses for numerous security personnel.

The Washington Times reports:

In all, Mr. Obama’s four-day excursion required six additional military transport planes flying eight missions with at least 22 total flight legs, involving 14 commercial airports and Air Force bases ranging from Joint Base McGuire in New Jersey to Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.

The Pentagon spent at least $2.8 million, and the Homeland Security Department spent another $767,000, which included about $180,000 for the Secret Service.

The long President’s Day weekend began with Mr. Obama traveling from Washington to Chicago on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, to give a speech on building a stronger middle class.

It was a follow-up to his State of the Union address earlier in the week.

This golfing weekend made news because while Obama was in Florida, his wife, and two children, traveled separately to Aspen, Colorado for a ski trip costing taxpayers even more.

Of course, the total cost can’t really be tabulated because some expenses of the Pentagon remain classified.

The man who ordered the audit, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) is flabbergasted at the results:

“At a time when the government was tightening its belt to prepare for sequestration, President Obama had such little disregard for the taxpayer that he spent millions of dollars to play golf with Tiger Woods. This arrogance is par for the course for the Obama administration.”

But never forget: Obama’s legacy has always been looking out for the middle class.