Controversy Over Donald Trump’s Golf Achievements
The former US President, Donald Trump, finds himself at the center of a debate regarding his golf accomplishments. Recently, a video surfaced of him making an impressive putt on the golf course, drawing attention and stirring conversation.
In the video posted on his social platform, ‘Truth’, Trump can be seen proudly walking away after sinking the putt, accompanied by applauding onlookers. Along with the video, Trump proclaimed he has won “36 Club Championships.”
This bold claim has been met with skepticism by some in the sports community. Rick Reilly, a noted sports commentator, countered this statement. Reilly responded by highlighting discrepancies in Trump’s reported number of victories over time.
Discrepancies in Trump’s Claims
Reilly shared his thoughts on the video, making note of Trump’s adjustment from a previous claim of 24 championships to now 36. With a touch of sarcasm, he mentioned, “Number that his twisted ego just skipped: 11.” He firmly stated, “Number of actual ‘championships’ he’s won: 0.”
Rick Reilly’s detailed criticisms are not new. In 2019, he authored the book ‘Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump’. The book offers a detailed view of Trump’s approach to golf, describing the president’s alleged disregard for golf rules.
Reilly’s Experience with Trump
In a conversation with The Guardian, Reilly explained that he has known Trump for 30 years and believes Trump’s need to win at all costs is apparent on the golf course. He expressed, “Golf reveals a lot of ugliness in this president. And what it reveals about this guy is that he cannot lose. He has to win and he will do anything to cheat.”
Driving Reilly’s Return to the Limelight
Interestingly, the inconsistencies in Trump’s golf achievements motivated Reilly to emerge from a peaceful retirement. He recounted how he enjoyed retirement in Italy when Trump’s claims compelled him to address what he perceived as deception.
Reilly shared, “I kept seeing on my Twitter feed, ‘I’m a champion. You should vote for me because I’ve won 18 club championships.’ That’s a lie because you already told me how you did it. Whenever you open a new course, you play by yourself and declare yourself the first club champion.”
Public Cost of Trump’s Golfing
Besides the debate over his championships, Trump’s golfing habits have also raised concerns regarding expenses borne by taxpayers. Earlier reports indicate substantial costs associated with his frequent golf outings during his tenure. Within just 48 days of returning to office, Trump played golf 13 times. These trips, particularly to Florida, reportedly cost around $18 million.
