Transparency about our own methods is essential to credibility. This article explains exactly how we collect presidential schedule data, what sources we rely on, how we verify information, and the limitations you should understand when using our tracker. Our goal is to be as transparent about our process as we hope the government is about presidential activities.

Primary Data Sources

1. Official White House Schedule Releases

The White House Press Office releases an official daily schedule, typically each morning. This schedule lists planned public events, meetings, and appearances for that day. These releases are our most authoritative source for scheduled activities.

Reliability: High for scheduled events, but these schedules often underrepresent actual presidential activities. Many meetings, calls, and work sessions don't appear on public schedules. The schedule represents what the administration chooses to disclose, not necessarily everything that happens.

Timeliness: Usually released same-day, though schedules can be updated or amended as plans change.

2. White House Press Pool Reports

The White House press pool consists of rotating groups of journalists who follow the President and file detailed reports on movements, remarks, and events. These pool reports are distributed to the full White House press corps and provide ground-truth verification of what actually occurs versus what was scheduled.

The White House Correspondents' Association has historically managed pool rotations, though as noted in our article on 2025 press access changes, the White House has recently taken control of pool selection.

Pool reports are archived at the University of Maryland's White House Pool Reports collection, providing a historical record dating back to 2020.

Reliability: Very high—these are real-time observations from professional journalists on site.

Timeliness: Near real-time during events; delays possible depending on pool reporter availability.

3. Official White House Statements and Briefings

Press briefings, statements, and official announcements from the White House provide additional context about presidential activities, schedule changes, and the calling of "lids" (indicating no further public activities are expected).

Reliability: Authoritative for what is disclosed; silent on activities not announced.

4. Travel Notices and FAA Data

When the President travels, various agencies issue notices that help confirm movements. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) issued by the FAA often indicate presidential travel to specific locations. These notices, while not naming the President directly, provide verifiable confirmation of travel.

Reliability: High for confirming travel occurred; useful for cross-referencing announced trips.

5. News Media Reporting

Major news organizations covering the White House—including the Associated Press, Reuters, major newspapers, and television networks—report on presidential activities. We use media reporting to supplement official sources, particularly for events or movements not captured in official releases.

Reliability: Generally high for major outlets, but we prioritize official sources when available.

Cost Data Sources

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Reports

Our cost figures, particularly the $3.4 million per Mar-a-Lago trip estimate, come from official GAO investigations. The GAO is Congress's nonpartisan investigative agency, and their reports represent the most authoritative official accounting of government expenditures.

For Mar-a-Lago costs, we specifically cite GAO Report GAO-19-178, published January 2019, which examined four presidential trips from February 3 to March 5, 2017. This report provides detailed breakdowns of costs incurred by the Department of Defense, Secret Service, Coast Guard, and other agencies.

Reliability: Highest possible—official government audit data.

Limitation: GAO reports examine specific time periods and may not perfectly reflect current costs due to inflation, fuel price changes, and evolving security requirements.

FOIA Requests and Disclosed Documents

Freedom of Information Act requests filed by journalists and watchdog organizations often reveal additional cost information. Organizations like Judicial Watch and news outlets like The War Zone have obtained Air Force One operating costs through FOIA, which we use to supplement GAO data.

Reliability: High—these are official government documents, though sometimes redacted.

Our Verification Process

Cross-Referencing Multiple Sources

We don't rely on any single source. When adding events to our tracker, we cross-reference:

• Official White House schedule releases
• Pool reports documenting actual occurrences
• News coverage confirming events took place
• Travel data (TFRs, departure/arrival times from pool reports)

If sources conflict, we note the discrepancy or use the most authoritative source (typically pool reports for what actually happened vs. schedules for what was planned).

Labeling Source Provenance

Our data includes source labeling so users can assess reliability. Events confirmed by multiple sources are more reliable than those from single sources. Official announcements are labeled differently from media reports.

Corrections Policy

When we identify errors, we correct them promptly. Historical data is updated to reflect the most accurate information available. Significant corrections are noted to maintain transparency about our accuracy.

What We Track

Schedule Events

We capture the following for each event:

• Date and time (when available)
• Event type (meeting, speech, travel, etc.)
• Location
• Brief description
• Source

Calculated Metrics

Beyond raw schedule data, we calculate several derived metrics:

• Days in Office: Simple count from inauguration.
• Mar-a-Lago Travel Cost: Trip count × $3.4 million (GAO average). See our full methodology article.
• Trump Property Visits: Count of visits to properties listed as Trump-owned per public records.
• Lid Time Hours: Time from when a "full lid" is called until midnight. See our lid time explanation.

Known Limitations

We believe transparency about our limitations is as important as transparency about our methods.

Incomplete Picture of Presidential Work

Our data captures publicly disclosed activities. It does not capture:

• Private meetings with staff not announced publicly
• Phone calls with advisors, legislators, or foreign leaders
• Classified briefings and national security meetings
• Policy review, reading, and decision-making done privately
• Work done after "lid" is called

A President could be working intensively while our data shows limited public activity. Schedule data measures public visibility and press access, not total work or productivity.

Variation in Administrative Transparency

Different administrations release different levels of detail. Some provide granular schedules; others release minimal information. This makes cross-administration comparisons challenging—differences in our data may reflect disclosure practices rather than actual activity differences.

Cost Estimate Limitations

Our cost figures are estimates based on official reports:

• The $3.4 million Mar-a-Lago figure is an average from four specific 2017 trips; individual trips may cost more or less.
• Costs change over time due to inflation, fuel prices, and security requirements.
• Some costs are classified and not included in official reports.
• We cannot account for costs borne by state/local governments unless specifically reported.

Real-Time Data Lag

While we strive for timely updates, there's inherent lag between events occurring and our database reflecting them. Pool reports must be filed, we must process them, and updates must be published. For the most current information during active news events, official White House channels and major news outlets may be faster.

Why This Matters

We believe informed citizens make better democratic participants. By being transparent about our methods, we:

• Build trust: You know exactly where our data comes from.
• Enable verification: You can check our sources yourself.
• Acknowledge limits: You understand what our data can and cannot tell you.
• Invite improvement: If you spot errors or have better sources, you can help us improve.

How to Use Our Data Responsibly

We encourage users to:

• Understand context: Schedule data is one piece of a larger picture.
• Check sources: For important claims, verify with original sources we cite.
• Avoid overinterpretation: Fewer public events doesn't necessarily mean less work.
• Consider methodology: When comparing across time periods or administrations, remember that disclosure practices vary.

Conclusion

Our commitment is to present presidential schedule data accurately, transparently, and with full acknowledgment of our sources and limitations. We're not trying to make political points—we're trying to make government data more accessible and useful for average citizens.

If you have questions about our methodology, suggestions for improvement, or corrections to offer, we welcome your input. Transparency is a two-way street, and we're committed to practicing what we advocate.

Related Articles:
Analyzing Presidential Schedule Patterns • Understanding Mar-a-Lago Travel Costs • What is 'Lid Time'?