TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND, July 30 – Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent trip to the United Kingdom, which included high-profile diplomatic engagements and trade negotiations, is once again overshadowed by allegations surrounding his conduct on the golf course.
During his stay, Trump played at least two rounds at his prestigious Turnberry golf resort in southeast Scotland. But what began as a quiet retreat has quickly drawn controversy after video footage surfaced over the weekend allegedly showing a caddy repositioning Trump’s ball near the edge of a bunker—prompting renewed scrutiny of the former president’s golf ethics.
While Trump has long touted his golfing prowess, boasting a handicap of 2.8 and claiming “there’s very few people that can beat me in golf,” numerous public figures over the years have accused him of bending the rules.
In 2016, actor Samuel L. Jackson recalled an incident at Trump National where a ball that clearly went into a lake was magically “found” by a caddy. “He just took off running and next thing we know he says ‘I got it Mr. Trump!’” Jackson claimed. Trump responded by denying any wrongdoing and accusing Jackson of being the real cheat.
The allegations are not new. In his book Commander in Cheat (2019), author Rick Reilly chronicled multiple stories of Trump’s questionable golf behavior, writing: “Donald Trump is the worst cheat ever and he doesn’t care who knows.” Reilly further lamented that Trump’s conduct had set back the image of the sport by decades.
Even rock icon Alice Cooper weighed in during a 2012 interview, calling Trump “the worst celebrity golf cheat,” though he stopped short of revealing details.
Sunday’s footage appears to bolster these long-standing accusations. Commentators claim a caddy was seen discreetly adjusting a ball before Trump approached for a shot. The video has since gone viral, reigniting debate about Trump’s integrity on the greens.
Despite the furor, Trump has remained silent on the latest accusations, focusing instead on his diplomatic wins during the trip—including a ceasefire negotiation between Thailand and Cambodia, a meeting with newly elected British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and renewed warnings to Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.
Still, for many observers, it is Trump’s golf game—not global politics—that once again steals the spotlight.