Donald Trump just gave golf fans a confession they probably never expected to hear from a sitting president. During a speech in Dublin on Saturday, Trump joked that he could cheat on the golf course if he wanted to, but claimed the hundreds of Secret Service agents around him made it impossible to get away with moving his ball.
The unusual remark came as Trump visited Ireland for the Irish Open at his Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg. While discussing his golf game with guests at the U.S. ambassador’s residence, he addressed the long-running questions about whether he bends the rules during casual rounds. His answer quickly became one of the most talked-about moments from his visit.
Trump’s comments also revived a debate that has followed his golf game for years. Sportswriter Rick Reilly documented numerous allegations about Trump’s on-course behavior in his 2019 book Commander in Cheat, giving the latest joke an extra layer of intrigue. Now, with Trump once again talking publicly about golf, an old question has suddenly found a new audience.
A surprising confession in Dublin
Trump addressed embassy staff and local business leaders on Saturday morning inside Dublin. His speech ran long and eventually wandered toward one of his favorite personal subjects. That subject was golf.
He was explaining why he could never possibly move his golf ball during a casual round. His reasoning had nothing to do with honesty or basic sportsmanship. It came down to something more practical and unexpected for most listeners in the room.
Instead, he pointed straight at the small army that follows him everywhere he plays golf. That single detail became the surprising centerpiece of his entire viral golf admission during the speech.
What Trump actually said on stage
Trump told the crowd that someone once asked him a pointed question during a friendly round of golf. The question itself was simple enough. Does the sitting president actually cheat during his games?
His response caught many in the audience off guard. He stated, “I can’t cheat; you have 250 Secret Service agents in pursuit,” highlighting the intense pressure and scrutiny surrounding the situation.
He then added a memorable line that raised eyebrows across the entire room. “It’s not that I wouldn’t cheat. But you can’t move the ball. I don’t know if they play or not, but they know you’re not supposed to be moving the ball around,” Trump said.
Secret Service and the collateral damage story
Trump also told a story about playing golf with the head of a major company while surrounded by Secret Service agents. He joked that if an emergency occurred, the executive could be treated as “collateral damage.”
Trump’s remarks came more than 2 years after he was wounded during the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident remains part of the documented history of Secret Service security failures surrounding Trump.
Golf cheating rumors that refuse to die
Trump has faced golf-cheating allegations from sportswriters and people who have played with him for years. His latest remarks have renewed attention on those longstanding claims.
Sportswriter Rick Reilly examined the allegations in his 2019 book Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump. Reilly reported that some caddies at Trump-owned or affiliated clubs used the nickname “Pele” because they alleged Trump sometimes kicked or moved his ball.
Reilly also accused Trump of improving his lies and scores during rounds, claims that Trump has disputed.
The “Commander in Cheat” legacy lives on
Reilly’s 2019 book Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump brought renewed attention to longstanding allegations about Trump’s golf habits. The book included accounts from caddies and others who accused Trump of moving his ball and manipulating scores.
Reilly also reported that caddies at Winged Foot used the nickname “Pele” for Trump. Those allegations have remained part of the broader public debate about Trump’s golf game.
His remarks in Dublin have now renewed attention on those longstanding allegations.
Doonbeg and the Irish Open connection
Trump’s visit to Ireland included political meetings in Dublin as well as an appearance at the Irish Open at his Trump International Golf Links resort in Doonbeg, County Clare.
The course sits along Ireland’s Atlantic coast and is known for its coastal dunes and links layout. Trump has repeatedly praised the property and its golf course.
The tournament provided a high-profile setting for Trump’s visit, while his remarks about golf renewed attention to longstanding questions about his on-course conduct.
Why Ireland was the perfect backdrop
Ireland has deep golfing traditions that stretch back centuries across its dramatic and windswept coastal landscape. The small country hosts several world-famous courses well beyond Trump’s own private property.
Speaking of that, let Trump connect his personal golf brand to a location that serious golfers already deeply respect. The timing made his surprising cheating joke land even harder with the audience.
Local business leaders and embassy staff formed a fairly captive audience for his signature blend of humor and constant self-promotion during the unusually long Saturday-morning speech in Dublin.
What this moment means for Trump’s image
Golf has always been central to how Trump presents his energy and competitive spirit to the public. His official handicap reportedly sits at 2.8, the lowest ever claimed by a sitting American president.
Yet skepticism about that impressively low number persists among professional golfers who have actually played alongside him over the years at various clubs and courses across the country.
The Dublin moment will likely follow Trump for quite a while. It captures his familiar mix of humor, bravado, and the ongoing debate over golf cheating that refuses to fade.
Little-known fact: Trump’s 2.8 handicap has been reported as the lowest listed handicap for a U.S. president, although the accuracy of the figure has been debated by golf writers.
TL;DR
- Trump joked about cheating at golf during a speech in Dublin.
- He said Secret Service agents make it impossible for him to cheat while playing.
- Trump added, “It’s not that I wouldn’t cheat,” drawing fresh attention to longstanding allegations about his golf game.
- Sportswriter Rick Reilly documented allegations about Trump’s golf habits in his 2019 book Commander in Cheat.
- Trump made the remarks during his visit to Ireland, which included an appearance at the Irish Open at his Doonbeg resort.
- His listed golf handicap is 2.8, a figure that has been questioned by golf writers.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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