President Donald Trump sparked criticism online after video showed him greeting U.S. service members during a weekend visit to his golf club in New Jersey.
In early August, Donald Trump, 80, spent part of the weekend at one of his New Jersey golf properties, where he met with members of the military after finishing a round of golf. Presidential aide Margo Martin later shared footage of the encounter online.
The visit came shortly after Trump attended a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base honoring four U.S. service members who were killed in the Middle East. Following the ceremony, Trump traveled to New Jersey.
In the footage, Trump approaches a group of uniformed service members while still wearing his golf attire. He has on his red “Make America Great Again” hat and keeps a white golf glove on one hand as he shakes hands and talks with the troops.
It was the golf glove that quickly drew the most attention online.
Some social media users questioned whether Trump should have removed both his glove and hat before greeting the service members, arguing that doing so would have shown greater respect.
Under traditional golf etiquette, taking off a golf glove and hat before a handshake can be viewed as a gesture of courtesy and respect.
“With his golf glove on. How disrespectful,” one commenter wrote.
Another person questioned whether Trump routinely remains in golf attire when meeting people away from the course. A third user joked that the service members may have simply been brought out to watch Trump play golf.
“How can he look any soldier in the eye knowing he wimped out from military service,” another critic wrote, referencing Trump’s history of avoiding military service during the Vietnam War era.
Other reactions were also sharply critical. One person called the interaction “classless,” arguing that Trump should have removed his hat and glove when greeting members of the armed forces.
Trump has long been known for his enthusiasm for golf and regularly visits his golf properties both during official travel and while spending personal time away from Washington.
He has owned and operated golf courses in the United States and abroad for decades. According to a tracker based on the president’s public schedule, Trump has played golf on 125 of the 569 days since returning to office, which amounts to roughly 22% of the time.
His interest in golf goes back to his college years, and he began expanding his golf business in the late 1990s. His golf portfolio has included properties across the United States as well as in Scotland, Ireland and other locations.
Trump has repeatedly spoken about his passion for the sport. In his 2005 book, The Best Golf Advice I Ever Received, he described golf as “more than a game” and referred to it as “a passion” shared by millions of people.
Former major champion Jack Nicklaus has also commented on Trump’s enthusiasm for golf, once saying that Trump “loves the game of golf more than he loves money.”