‘Luxury’ Trump Club Plagued with Rat and Insect Infestations

Health inspectors say a luxury golf club owned by President Donald Trump was dealing with rodents, insects, and troubling food safety issues behind the scenes.

According to inspection records from the Westchester County Department of Health, officials flagged several sanitation problems during a November 20, 2025 inspection of Trump National Golf Club Westchester in Briarcliff Manor, New York — an upscale property that markets itself as an elite retreat just 30 minutes from Manhattan.

Inspectors reported evidence of rodents and insects at the facility and issued five health code violations during the visit. While the violations were not classified as “critical,” the report paints a far less glamorous picture than the polished marketing images used to promote the exclusive club.

Among the issues documented were food items left uncovered, containers stacked improperly, and products stored directly on the floor — all practices that increase the risk of contamination.

Inspectors also noted that sneeze guards meant to protect food from germs were missing or inadequate. Some food products were found without labels, raising concerns about how long they had been sitting out and whether they were safe to serve.

The problems did not stop with food handling.

Health officials described dirty surfaces throughout the facility and flagged structural issues inside the building. Parts of the club were described as “poorly constructed” and in disrepair. Inspectors also cited inadequate lighting and ventilation in certain areas.

Neither the Trump Organization nor representatives for the club responded to requests for comment about the inspection.

The findings add to a growing list of scrutiny facing Trump-owned golf properties.

Just months earlier, another Trump club was hit with an even more damaging inspection report. In May 2025, health officials in New Jersey cited Trump National Golf Club Bedminster for 18 violations, nine of them considered critical.

The inspection initially resulted in a shocking score of 32 out of 100 — the lowest restaurant rating in Somerset County at the time, according to reporting from Forbes.

The embarrassing grade triggered a scramble. Within hours of the report becoming public, inspectors returned for another review and dramatically raised the score to an 86, just enough for the club to receive a “B” rating.

Club management strongly rejected the initial findings. David Schutzenhofer, general manager of Trump National Bedminster, suggested the inspection was politically motivated.

“Never before have we witnessed such visceral hostility from the health department,” Schutzenhofer said in comments to NJBIZ.

Trump’s golf empire has long been a centerpiece of both his brand and his presidency.

The Westchester club has been part of his portfolio since 1996, when he purchased the property, then known as Briar Hall Golf and Country Club. Trump poured millions into renovating the 140-acre course and a massive 75,000-square-foot clubhouse before reopening it in 2002 with a redesign by golf architect Jim Fazio.

Today the club promotes itself as a premier destination for wealthy members seeking luxury dining, high-end events, and championship golf.

But critics say the latest inspection raises uncomfortable questions about what is really happening behind the kitchen doors.

Trump has also faced criticism over the amount of time he spends at his golf properties while serving as president. During the 2016 campaign, Trump mocked former President Barack Obama for golfing while in office.

Yet since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has visited golf properties tied to his businesses 88 times in his first year alone, according to the Trump Golf Tracker.

Those trips have cost taxpayers an estimated $110 million in travel and security expenses.

For supporters, the inspection violations are minor issues that many restaurants and private clubs encounter. But for critics, the discovery of rodents, insects, and sanitation problems at one of Trump’s luxury clubs is an embarrassing headline the president would likely rather avoid.

And now, thanks to the health department report, the controversy is spreading far beyond the greens.