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Golf tournament or political rally? Donald Trump seems to believe the two go hand-in-hand as he used his hosting duties at LIV Golf DC to ramp up support for his 2024 Presidential campaign.
The former President was hosting the Saudi-funded series for a third time, this week at his Trump National Golf Club on the outskirts of Washington DC – a place he is targeting to return to.
Similarly to previous LIV events hosted at his Bedminster and Miami courses, the crowd seemed to be in attendance to snatch a glimpse of Trump just as much as the professional golfers on show.Â
And the 45th President did not waste the opportunity to greet his loyal supporters.Â
Arriving at the driving range on his presidential golf cart accompanied by his motorcade of around 15 secret service carts, Trump lumbered down the practice ground waving to the crowd gathered.Â
Donald Trump seized the chance to rally his supporters at LIV Golf in DC on Saturday
The former President graced the driving range at his Trump National Golf CourseÂ
Many called out to him with cried of ’45,’ ‘No. 47,’ or ‘Let’s go 2024,’ which triggered a signature fist pump from the former President.Â
He greeted PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka, before heading further down to chat with Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed, who let him take a shot from his spot on the range. Â
Shouts and screams rippled along the line packed against the fencing as he occasionally waved to his fans, who all had their smartphones out, cameras trained on their political star, rather than the LIV rebels.Â
He even stopped to sign flags and caps – many bore his ‘Make America Great Again’ or others were emblazoned with ‘Trump’ in block capitals, similar to the one son Eric and his wife Lara had donned for the occasion.Â
Where he stopped, the crowd surged, clamoring for his attention. Many begged for selfies, to which he obliged, others gushed with their love for him, while one teenager informed him he would be eligible to vote for the first time in 2024 – no guesses where that vote is going.
When asked if he could beat Ron DeSantis for the republican ticket and emerge from his third Presidential battle victorious, Trump didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. The Trump faithful answered for him with scoffs and adamant insistences of ‘of course he can.’
If their electoral intention wasn’t already clear, Trump made sure he had their vote, reminding them all to ‘vote in 2024.’
Meanwhile, as his fan club continued to idolize Trump, LIV’s stars had already left the range after the five-minute, one-minute and final reminders to make their way to their tees for round two’s shotgun start.Â
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The 76-year-old even paused from greeting fans to take a shot himself in front of Patrick Reed
He stopped to pose for selfies with supporters and signed ‘Trump’ caps for fans
The spectators gathered along the fencing let out cheers as Trump waved to themÂ
But a sizeable crowd didn’t follow them. Instead of heading to the course to watch the professionals tee off – something they had paid good money to see – a group of loyalists remained to continue watching the Trump show on a stage that was now completely his own.Â
Trump himself was in no rush to make his way on to his own course to watch the shotgun start. As the countdown to the first drives ticked down on the massive screens framing the driving range, Trump stayed rooted, taking multiple lengthy phone calls.Â
If LIV hoped that his presence in Potomac Falls, Virginia boosted excitement around the tournament, then they certainly had their wish granted.Â
And while perhaps detracting from the main attraction on the fairways, Trump still paid credit to the controversial breakaway.
Turning up for a practice round with Patrick Reed, Graeme McDowell, his son Eric and Bob Koepka – the dad of PGA Championship winner Brooks – on Thursday Trump was keen to speak very highly of the competition – and the Saudi Arabian money flooding into the sport.
‘I think the (PGA) Tour made a major mistake by playing games,’ Trump told reporters. ‘They have unlimited money, and they love it. And it’s been great publicity for Saudi Arabia.
The tournament host missed the shotgun start to take multiple phone calls on the rangeÂ
Dressed in a MAGA cap and shirt, he took the opportunity to show off his golfing skills
‘They’ve been great for golf. The Saudis have been fantastic for golf. And they’re going to make it a big part of, inside their country, they’re going to do some great courses.’
LIV Golf is financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and their huge finances have shaken up the sport, enticing many of its top players away from the PGA Tour to sign lucrative new contracts.
LIV’s critics have accused it of enabling sportswashing, as Saudi Arabia look to take attention away from its terrible history of human rights abuses.Â
Trump was asked whether he receives a fee for allowing LIV Golf to use his courses for their tournaments, to which he confirmed, but would not specify an amount.
