It was a Thanksgiving headline few expected — Donald Trump celebrating a golf win just moments after announcing a Guardswoman’s death in Washington, D.C. The former president spent the holiday at Mar-a-Lago, where he claimed two more club championships, raising his total from 36 to 38. But here's where it gets controversial: the announcement came during a Thanksgiving Day call with U.S. service members, in which he also broke the tragic news about a fatal shooting near the White House.
According to Trump, he had just defeated a 27-year-old competitor, proudly calling himself a “scratch golfer” — a claim that quickly reignited debates about his credibility on the course. The boast drew fresh attention to sportswriter Rick Reilly’s 2019 bestseller Commander in Cheat, which accused Trump of fabricating his golf trophies and manipulating scores, calling his record “a 100% lie.” Yet, Trump remained defiant. He insisted his wins were real because “you have a lot of people watching during club championships.” He went on, saying, “I’ve won 38 championships without much practice. The fairway doesn’t know your age — when you’re walking down the middle and your opponent’s in the rough, age doesn’t matter.”
Just hours before that lighthearted golf discussion, tragedy had struck the nation’s capital. Two National Guard members were shot while deployed as part of Trump’s earlier initiative to combat crime in D.C. One victim, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, died from her injuries. Trump labeled the incident a “terrorist attack,” blaming the Biden administration for, in his words, “letting Afghans into the country.” The suspect, reportedly an Afghan national who had previously worked with U.S. troops, remains under investigation.
Still, Trump’s focus quickly pivoted back to golf. He described his skills as being “around scratch or better,” bragging about handling pressure well and referencing his appearance with Bryson DeChambeau on LIV Golf’s YouTube series Breaking 50. Taking a jab at Joe Biden, he expressed irritation at Biden’s reported six handicap claim, scoffing, “He can’t hit a ball 30 yards.” In Trump’s view, club championships represent “our majors,” and he claimed all his victories came without any handicap advantage. “Most people don’t even try to play in them,” he added.
Reilly’s reporting, however, paints a very different picture. He alleged that Trump would often play solo rounds right after opening a new course, call them “club championships,” and have his name engraved on plaques as the winner. That detail has fueled years of skepticism about the legitimacy of Trump’s self-reported record.
Trump’s golf business today spans seven public courses, ten private clubs, and four luxury resorts — a sprawling empire that gives plenty of opportunities for contested ‘wins.’ But Trump isn’t just being called out by journalists. Famous faces including Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Anderson, Alice Cooper, Suzann Pettersen, Oscar De La Hoya, and Mike Tirico have all accused him of bending the rules or outright cheating during games. Online clips and eyewitness accounts have even shown caddies subtly moving his ball into better positions mid-match.
And this is the part most people miss: while Trump’s self-proclaimed victories may thrill his loyal base, his golfing boasts remain one of the most polarizing aspects of his public persona. Is it harmless bravado — or calculated mythmaking meant to reinforce his image as a winner at all costs?
So what do you think? Are Trump’s golf stories just exaggerated locker-room talk, or do they reveal something deeper about how he wants to be seen — on and off the course? Drop your thoughts below; this debate’s far from over.
