During a high-profile trip to the United Kingdom this week, President Donald Trump did what many expected: he met with world leaders, made headlines with ambiguous remarks about the royal family, and, of course, hit the golf course. But while all eyes were on Trump’s swing at his newly opened 18-hole course in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, it was First Lady Melania Trump’s offhand comments about her husband’s favorite pastime that quietly stole the spotlight.
As President Trump continues to face renewed allegations of cheating on the course — this time during his most recent Scottish outing — Melania’s blunt and refreshingly honest perspective on her husband’s golf addiction has begun to resurface.
For decades, Trump has been synonymous with golf. His passion for the sport has never been subtle — from developing luxury courses across the world to regularly blending golf with diplomacy. In fact, his latest overseas venture wasn’t just a political affair. Alongside meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump unveiled his newest project: an expansive 18-hole course on the windswept dunes of Trump International Scotland.
But amid photo ops and press soundbites, it was business as usual for the President in another sense: he made time to play.
He wasn’t alone, either. Cameras were rolling.
A now-viral video — racking up over four million views in less than 48 hours — shows Trump being chauffeured across the green in a golf cart while two of his caddies walk ahead. What happens next is what stirred controversy: one caddy appears to discreetly drop a golf ball onto the course just before Trump pulls up and walks toward it as though it were his original shot.
The short clip, posted by the account PatriotTakes on X (formerly Twitter), doesn’t show what happens afterward. But that small window was enough to revive long-standing allegations about Trump’s sportsmanship — or lack thereof — from previous golf outings.
https://twitter.com/patriottakes/status/1949496947808637164
The claims aren’t new. In fact, they’ve followed him for years.
Sportswriter and former Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly, who once played a round with Trump, has been one of the most outspoken critics of Trump’s conduct on the course. “I’ve always said golf is like bicycle shorts. It reveals a lot about a guy,” Reilly remarked. “And what it reveals about this guy is that he cannot lose. He has to win and he will do anything to cheat.”
Among Reilly’s accounts were claims that Trump regularly takes multiple mulligans (re-dos), makes up shots, and even once took a “give-me chip-in” — a concept so unheard of in golf that even seasoned players have to laugh in disbelief.
Despite the backlash, Trump’s golf empire continues to grow. But not everyone close to him is on board with the obsession.
Enter Melania.
In a rare moment of public candor earlier this month, the First Lady didn’t hold back when asked about her husband’s golfing. Her answer? Equal parts dry humor and subtle distance.
“No, I don’t play golf,” she said plainly, shutting down the idea that the Trumps are a golfing power couple. She then clarified that while she had played in the past, it’s no longer an activity she partakes in — and certainly not something she shares with President Trump now.
For a First Lady who tends to keep her thoughts close to the chest, the statement struck a chord with many. It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t cutting. But it was unmistakably honest — and perhaps telling.
Some interpreted her tone as lightly mocking, a bit of gentle shade aimed at Trump’s notorious dedication to the sport. Others saw it as a rare glimpse into the dynamic of their private relationship — one where Melania stays clear of certain “hobbies,” particularly those that draw so much media scrutiny.
Of course, Trump’s trip to the UK wasn’t just about golf. True to form, he made waves in other ways too.
While speaking with reporters, the President praised members of the British royal family — including King Charles and Queen Camilla — calling them “great people.” But then, in true Trumpian fashion, he added a vague caveat: “You could have people that weren’t great people,” he said. “I don’t know if I can say that, but you could have people that weren’t.”
Prime Minister Starmer, present during the exchange, diplomatically replied, “We’re very lucky,” steering the conversation away from any controversy.
Still, observers believe Trump was alluding to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — a pair he’s openly criticized in the past.
Though he didn’t name them, the message was clear enough for royal watchers.
Between those comments and the resurfacing of golf cheating accusations, Trump once again dominated headlines — though not always for reasons he might have hoped.
But through it all, Melania remains largely in the background — never far, but rarely front and center. When she does speak, it’s typically brief and guarded. That’s why her dismissive remark about golf has gained such traction.
It wasn’t just a quip. It was a window — however small — into how she views one of the biggest parts of President Trump’s post-White House lifestyle. And for once, it wasn’t filtered through PR or politics.
Just Melania, being honest.
