Donald Trump has a long history of giving mocking nicknames to his political rivals. From “Crooked Hillary” for Hillary Clinton to “Sleepy Joe” for President Joe Biden, his list of monikers spans years. Nikki Haley was dubbed “Birdbrain” after a 2023 debate, and others like Gavin Newsom, Bernie Sanders, and Kamala Harris have also been targets, with names like “Governor Newscum,” “Crazy Bernie,” and even “Tampon Tim.”
Many people have questioned whether such insults are appropriate coming from a former president. Interestingly, though, Trump hasn’t just handed out nicknames—he’s received a few of his own. One, in particular, ties him to a famous soccer player, and not for a flattering reason. The nickname “Pele” was given to him by caddies at a golf club, not because of athletic skill, but due to how frequently they observed him kicking his golf ball into better positions—much like a soccer player might.
Trump’s love for golf is no secret. During his presidency, he reportedly played over 40 rounds, even amid moments of national crisis. For instance, he was on the golf course while the stock market tanked due to his tariff policy, and again during the fallout of the Jeffrey Epstein case when many supporters turned on him for refusing to release related files.
Despite winning numerous club championships—sometimes even claiming victories when no one saw him play—questions have long swirled about whether he actually plays fairly. In fact, sportswriter Rick Reilly published a book titled Commander in Cheat, detailing Trump’s alleged history of cheating on the golf course.
According to Reilly, who once played with Trump, the former president would take excessive mulligans (do-overs), invent new rules like “gimme chip-ins,” and even claim trophies at tournaments he didn’t attend. Trump allegedly told Reilly that when he buys a new golf course, he plays a solo round and declares himself the champion. “That’s what kind of guy this is,” Reilly said.
In response to the book, a Trump campaign spokesperson slammed Reilly, accusing him of jealousy and bias. However, Reilly’s claims are echoed by others, including Jack O’Donnell, a former Trump executive. O’Donnell recalled a colleague once laughing after a round with Trump, saying, “He moved the ball on every shot except the tee-off.”
Reilly also wrote that Trump “cheats like a three-card Monte dealer,” constantly manipulating the game—kicking, throwing, or repositioning his ball, and then lying about it. This consistent behavior earned him the nickname “Pele” from staff at Winged Foot Golf Club.
Bryan Marsal, chairman of the 2020 U.S. Open and a fellow member at Winged Foot, shared an anecdote of golfing with Trump. According to Marsal, Trump openly admitted, “Those two guys cheat. I cheat. You cheat. Let’s beat them.” Marsal concluded that Trump may not even see his behavior as cheating, as long as everyone else is doing it too.
So, does Donald Trump really cheat at golf? Many say yes. What do you think? Feel free to share your opinion on Facebook.