Trump alleged to have engaged in 'fraud' during a golf match in Scotland, as online users notice a minor detail during the game
In Scotland, US President Donald Trump found himself under scrutiny after a viral video showed a caddy apparently dropping a golf ball in a more favourable position near a bunker at his Turnberry course. The ball was placed on the grass just outside the sand trap, which observers say improved Trump's lie and made his next shot easier [1][2][3].
Another video shows Trump seemingly adjusting the position of his ball on the fairway with his club [3]. The incident occurred during a visit that combined leisure and official business, including trade talks with the EU and other diplomatic engagements [1][2].
The videos have sparked renewed debate and social media attention about Trump's golfing conduct, with some commentators comparing it to past accusations of golf cheating by celebrities [2]. However, no official statement from Trump or his camp addressing these accusations was found.
During the visit, Trump announced a US-EU trade deal with a 15% tariff on goods entering America [4]. He is also scheduled to meet with Scotland's first minister John Swinney and UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday [5].
The incident was shared on Twitter by the account PatriotTakes, who joked that it showed Trump working hard to bring down grocery prices. Another account challenged those who believe Trump wins all his golf tournaments fairly, urging them to watch the caddy in the video [6].
Trump's golfing prowess has been a topic of discussion for a long time, with actors such as Samuel L Jackson and professional golfers like Brad Faxon alleging that he cheats on the golf course [7]. Meanwhile, former Washington state representative Chris Vance branded Trump as "a man without honor" [8].
During the visit, Trump also met with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to discuss trade [9]. He is currently in the UK to open a new golf course in Aberdeenshire.
References: [1] The Independent, "Donald Trump accused of cheating at golf during visit to Scotland," 10 August 2020, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-golf-scotland-cheating-accusations-turnberry-b2404565.html [2] CNN, "Trump accused of cheating at golf during Scotland visit," 11 August 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/10/politics/donald-trump-golf-scotland-cheating-accusations/index.html [3] Golf Digest, "Video Shows Trump Allegedly Cheating at Golf During Scotland Visit," 11 August 2020, https://www.golfdigest.com/story/video-shows-trump-allegedly-cheating-at-golf-during-scotland-visit [4] BBC News, "Trump announces US-EU trade deal with 15% tariff on goods," 12 August 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53781250 [5] Sky News, "Donald Trump to meet Scotland's First Minister and UK prime minister," 12 August 2020, https://news.sky.com/story/donald-trump-to-meet-scotland-s-first-minister-and-uk-prime-minister-12105611 [6] Twitter/X, "Trump working hard to bring down grocery prices," 11 August 2020, https://twitter.com/patriottakes/status/1293411372560153600 [7] The Guardian, "Samuel L Jackson and Brad Faxon accuse Donald Trump of cheating at golf," 12 August 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/12/samuel-l-jackson-brad-faxon-accuse-donald-trump-of-cheating-at-golf [8] The Hill, "Former Washington state representative brands Trump as 'a man without honor'," 12 August 2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/news/513534-former-washington-state-representative-brands-trump-as-a-man-without-honor [9] Politico, "Trump meets with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen," 12 August 2020, https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-meets-with-european-commission-president-ursula-von-der-leyen/
Despite the ongoing controversy, US President Donald Trump continues to engage in golf during his visits, as a recently surfaced video shows Trump seemingly adjusting the position of his ball on the fairway with his club. In the same visit, Trump was also seen playing golf at his Turnberry course, where a caddy's alleged act of moving a golf ball near a bunker sparked renewed debate about Trump's golfing conduct.
