President Trump is celebrating another club championship title, but the victory has sparked a familiar debate: did he really shoot that score?
The 80-year-old commander-in-chief claimed his 43rd club championship at his New Jersey course on Sunday, carding a 70 to win both the Senior and Super Senior divisions. Video of Trump hoisting the trophies quickly went viral, drawing both congratulations and side-eye from social media users.
As is often the case with Trump's golf exploits, the skepticism was swift. Critics questioned how a man of his age and playing style could post such a number in a competitive setting. But his supporters are pushing back hard, arguing that the notion of him cheating is absurd.
“It’s amusing to me, all these comments saying he couldn’t shoot a 70 in a tournament. Apparently you’ve never played a golf tournament, you’re playing with other players, officials and probably in this case a small gallery. Are you saying they all let him cheat? Are you obtuse or just stupid?” one supporter wrote on social media.
Another chimed in: “It’s an impressive score. I don’t believe that they would let him cheat.”
So, how good is Trump actually? Paul Elvin, founder of The London Golf Performance Academy, offered a professional assessment. He told The Independent that Trump possesses a surprisingly effective swing for someone his age.
“He rotates fantastically well through impact and generates great power in transition. It might look unusual on the eye because his backswing is flatter than the professionals you will see on TV, but he re-routes back onto plane in the downswing and rotates well with a stable release. Considering his age, it’s a very good golf swing,” Elvin said.
Elvin added that Trump's swing is unconventional but functional, noting that past coaches might have tried to tidy it up. “He’s fantastic in transition and generates a good level of speed and power, but I would like him to swing it a touch more on plane in his backswing to stop the club getting so much behind him.”
Despite the technical praise, the controversy isn't going away. The lukewarm reaction from the gallery at the trophy presentation only fueled the chatter, as seen in the crowd's muted response. Meanwhile, Trump's team continues to tout his athletic achievements, a pattern that has drawn both admiration and eye-rolls across the sports world.
For now, Trump's supporters are standing firm, insisting that a 70 is well within his capabilities. Whether the doubters will ever be convinced remains to be seen, but the debate shows no signs of slowing down. As one fan put it, “You’ve never played a tournament if you think this is impossible.”
