President Trump posted that he shot a 70 at a tournament at one of his clubs and attributed the score to "talent," prompting fast criticism. Detractors pointed to decades of allegations and a viral video that some say shows suspicious play. Observers also note Trump tends to post better scores at courses he owns, while accounts from sportswriter Rick Reilly and a cited 2022 deposition have been used to buttress cheating claims. The episode reignited debate over the president's conduct on the golf course.
Trump's 'I Won With A 70' Post Draws Fresh Backlash Over Longstanding Golf Cheating Claims
Trump shows off his form in this 2023 file photo, taken at his Bedminster club in New Jersey. Mike Stobe/Getty Images
President Donald Trump on Sunday posted on Truth Social that he had "won with a score of 70" at a tournament held at one of his clubs and credited the result to his innate ability. His message — "It's called TALENT, and I have it, and they don't!" — quickly drew pushback online from critics who pointed to decades of allegations that he bends or breaks the rules on the golf course.
Claims, Context and Responses
Trump’s boast came alongside taunting of other players, but critics were swift to say that “talent” does not answer long-standing accusations about how he plays. Observers and several people who have played with him have alleged a pattern of suspicious play over many years, and a viral video from last year was cited by some as apparent evidence of questionable conduct.
Patterns Cited by Critics
Commentators note that Trump often posts strong scores at courses he owns and rarely plays elsewhere. By contrast, his results away from his properties have not always been notable: in a 2006 celebrity tournament in Tahoe he reportedly finished 62nd out of 80 participants.
Trump and Lindsey Graham golf at Trump National Golf Club in this 2020 file photo. AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File
“Some people say you may outdrive him, but you're not going to outdrive his caddy,” a line attributed in reports to a 2022 deposition that was cited in coverage of the matter, has been read by critics as shorthand for alleged tactics that give him practical advantages on the course.
Sportswriter Rick Reilly, who has cataloged numerous accounts in a book and articles, described episodes in which Trump’s ball was later found in a better position than where witnesses say it landed and other incidents that players described as rule-bending. In one anecdote recounted in coverage, Reilly quoted players who said a ball that splashed into a pond was later discovered in the fairway; Trump was quoted as quipping, "It must've been the tide." Reilly has told news outlets there are many former partners and opponents who would back up similar stories.
What We Know — And What Remains Disputed
Several incidents and anecdotal accounts have fed the narrative of suspicious play, but many claims remain disputed and are based on witness recollections and reporting rather than a formal adjudication. The viral video and multiple eyewitness accounts have kept the topic in the public conversation whenever Trump highlights his golf results.
This report synthesizes coverage from HuffPost and other outlets that documented the post, the reactions, and past allegations. The president’s supporters dismiss many of the accusations as partisan or anecdotal, while critics say the pattern is convincing.
Source: Original report appeared on HuffPost.
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