President Donald Trump’s love of golf is hardly news. The man has put his name on many golf courses across the globe. From the historic greens of St. Andrews in Scotland to the elite country clubs of Westchester, New York, Trump has long been an established presence in the golf world. In a 2010 interview, he described himself as an “avid golfer” and stated that he was “Committed to creating the world’s finest portfolio of golf courses.” Trump certainly seems to have taken considerable steps toward that goal, and despite his recent career change and change of address, he hasn’t let his passion for the game lapse.
Is our leader playing golf while his country panics?
The sun-kissed coast of West Palm Beach, Florida is home to multiple golf courses owned by Trump’s company. Since beginning his new job, Trump has made it a priority to make an appearance at one of these courses almost every weekend. Is it simply to play golf? As of now, we are not sure. One might assume that someone who has so recently assumed the position of President of the United States would have more important things on his mind than golf, but so far it would seem that President Trump hasn’t let it get in the way of his political duties. That said, it is not hard to see why the new leader of the free world spending his time flying from Washington D.C.
to Florida to play golf might be frowned upon in some circles. This is likely the primary reason that President Trump’s aides have been going to considerable lengths to avoid confirming if Trump is actually spending his time there playing golf or if he is dealing with more important matters.
Previous presidents didn't put pastimes before their country
The game of golf is by no means unique to presidents. It should be noted, though, that before stepping into office, Trump made it very clear that he did not approve of President Barack Obama’s golfing habits. Ever the outspoken critic, he was not afraid to use choice words when describing his president’s love of the game.
Recent reports of Trump’s frequent trips to Mar-a-Lago have caused citizens and political pundits to consider the hypocrisy of the situation. President Trump can say what he wants about Obama, but the numbers do not lie. He was hitting the golf course just two weeks after his inauguration, while Obama was not seen on the green for four months after his. President George W. Bush lasted one month longer during his time in office.
Have we found a campaign promise that Trump can't keep?
During an event in Virginia last year, Trump assured the American people that he would be working for them and would not be concerned with other matters. “I’m not going to have time to play golf” he stated. Considerable evidence, however, would point to the contrary.
While Trump’s aides don’t seem to want to confirm anything regarding how Trump has spent his six visits to his Florida golf courses so far, various social media posts have provided proof that Trump spent more than his fair share of time playing 18 holes. Trump certainly loves Twitter, but he likely didn’t appreciate it when photos surfaced on the site proving that he’s been spending time golfing. PGA golfer Rory McIlroy later confirmed to Golf Blog No Laying Up that he had played a full round of golf with the President.
