Freshly disclosed grand jury testimony from a close ally of Donald Trump has cast new light on long-standing allegations that the former president receives dubious assistance during his favourite pastime: golf.
Secret Testimony Reveals Anecdotal Evidence
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch Republican supporter of Mr Trump, reportedly made suggestive comments under oath about the former president's conduct on the fairway. The remarks were part of his 2022 testimony to a Georgia grand jury investigating alleged election interference.
According to transcripts obtained by the New York Times this week, Graham did not directly accuse the president of cheating but offered a telling anecdote. When questioned on the matter, Graham stated: "Some people say you may outdrive him, but you’re not going to outdrive his caddy. It is what it is."
The Independent has contacted Senator Graham's office for further comment.
A History of Accusations on the Fairway
Allegations that Donald Trump bends the rules of golf are far from new, despite his consistent denials. The claims have followed him for years, becoming a persistent footnote to his public image as an avid golfer.
In 2016, actor Samuel L. Jackson publicly accused Mr Trump of cheating at the game. Two years later, professional LPGA player Suzann Pettersen was quoted as saying the president "cheats like hell," though she later retracted the statement.
The topic was explored in depth by sportswriter Rick Reilly in his 2019 book, Commander in Cheat. Reilly recounted stories from Winged Foot Golf Club, where Mr Trump is a member, alleging that caddies nicknamed him "Pele" after the legendary footballer because they claimed he frequently kicked his ball back onto the fairway.
The speculation intensified in July 2024 when a video from a course in Scotland went viral. The clip appeared to show Mr Trump's caddie walking ahead and potentially placing the president's ball in a more favourable position, an act which would contravene the fundamental golfing rule of playing the ball where it lies.
Broader Context of the Georgia Testimony
Graham's comments on golf emerged within the much more serious context of the Fulton County investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. The testimony also revealed Graham's scepticism regarding Mr Trump's core claim of a stolen election.
Graham told grand jurors that "if you told [Trump] martians came and stole votes, he’d be inclined to believe it." However, in a statement to the New York Times, Graham defended the former president's sincerity while distancing himself from the claim, calling the Georgia case a "politically driven hit job." He added, "I made it clear, then and now, that President Trump sincerely believed the election was stolen. We had our differences on this point."
The juxtaposition of the golf anecdote with testimony about the election highlights the personal loyalty Graham maintains, even as he subtly acknowledges Mr Trump's well-documented difficulty in accepting defeat—whether in politics or on the golf course.
