The New York Times released a transcript from Graham’s testimony during a 2022 election interference case. To underscore Trump’s lack of integrity, a prosecutor inquired whether Trump had ever cheated at golf. Graham’s response was telling: “Some people say you may outdrive him, but you’re not going to outdrive his caddy,” he stated, according to the report on January 14. “It is what it is,” he concluded, hinting at Trump’s notorious reputation.

While under oath, Graham divulged the truth, despite previously portraying Trump as a golfing virtuoso. In an interview for the book “This Will Not Pass” by Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin, Trump discussed his golfing prowess. During the interview, Trump dialed Graham and placed him on speakerphone, prompting the senator to extol the president’s golfing skills during challenging conditions. Graham even mentioned Trump assisting him with his game. This instance suggests that Graham might have felt compelled to sing Trump’s praises, aligning with accusations from others that Trump exaggerates his golf scores.

Graham came clean under oath, but he had previously claimed that POTUS was a great golfer. Reporters Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin interviewed Trump for their book, “This Will Not Pass,” and the subject of his golf game came up. To prove how good he was, Trump put Graham on speaker when the senator happened to call during the interview — and the writers later played the recording on “The Daily Show” in May 2022. After some prompting from the president, Graham described Trump playing an incredible round under adverse conditions. “He started helping me with my game,” he added. It seems Graham possibly felt pressured into praising Trump’s game, as other people have claimed the president fudges his numbers on the golf course.

Further evidence of Trump’s alleged golf course antics emerged the subsequent year when a video showcasing his caddy’s actions went viral. In July 2025, a clip circulated on X, capturing the caddy tossing a ball to improve its position, while Trump remained seated in his golf cart until the ball was discreetly placed.

The sportswriter also explained how POTUS won so many course championships. His secret? Not attending the tournaments. “What he does [is] he just calls in and goes, ‘I usually beat that guy, give me the trophy,’” he said. Naturally, word got back to POTUS, and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung — then a spokesperson for Trump — vehemently denied Reilly’s claims. “Rick fantasizes about having a golf game as good as President Trump. But instead of putting in the hard work to improve his s***ty game, Rick allows his severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome to completely take over his life,” Cheung told People shortly after Reilly’s television appearance aired.

The following year, more evidence surfaced of Trump cheating on the golf course when a video of his caddy went viral. The clip was posted to X in July 2025 and showed Trump’s caddy tossing a ball for a favorable lie. Meanwhile, the president was still seated in his golf cart and didn’t exit it until the ball had been thrown.