‘An extension of his administration’: how Trump’s resorts became a proxy for access and power

Elected officials visited Trump properties 145 times since his inauguration, records show

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lected leaders from Israel to Iowa have visited Donald Trump’s various properties 145 times since his inauguration last year, according to a new report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew), a political watchdog group.

Trump’s luxury resorts have offered the chief executive an unusual political arena – and a source of profit. A Guardian analysis of campaign finance records found that US political campaigns and committees spent at least $1.3m at Trump properties since January 2025.

But that only accounts for a small portion of Trump’s likely proceeds. Foreign governments and private corporations are not required to disclose their spending.