President Donald Trump appears to have changed his mind on whether it is appropriate for the president to go golfing.
Like many on the right, Trump was a harsh critic of former president Barack Obama for regularly going golfing. (RELATED: Milwaukee Burns, Louisiana Floods, Obama Golfs)
“Can you believe that,with all of the problems and difficulties facing the U.S., President Obama spent the day playing golf,” Trump tweeted in October 2014, adding, “Worse than Carter.”
“We pay for Obama’s travel so he can fundraise millions so Democrats can run on lies. Then we pay for his golf,” Trump tweeted again that same month.
Another Trump tweet read: “President Obama has a major meeting on the N.Y.C. Ebola outbreak, with people flying in from all over the country, but decided to play golf!”
As president, however, Trump has had no problem taking regular golf outings of his own. He has gone golfing ten times since his inauguration, according to CNN’s count.
All ten of Trump’s golf outings have been on his two golf courses near Mar-a-Lago, where Trump has been spending many of his weekends.
Each of Trump’s weekend Mar-a-Lago trips could cost taxpayers more than $3 million, according to an analysis by Politico.
Former president George W. Bush reportedly gave up golfing in 2003 because he believed it was inappropriate for the president to be seen golfing during wartime.
“I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf,” Bush said in 2008. “I feel I owe it to the families to be as — to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.”
Bush later defended Obama against his golfing critics.
“I think he ought to play golf,” Bush said in 2013.
When asked why, Bush explained: “Because I know what it’s like to be in the bubble. I know the pressures of the job, and to be able to get outside and play golf with some of your pals is important for the president. It does give you an outlet.”