In a surprising twist during the first 2024 U.S. presidential debate, the conversation between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump veered into an unexpected territory: golf handicaps. The debate, which was expected to focus on critical issues like the economy, immigration, and foreign policy, took a detour when the candidates were asked about their ability to serve well into their 80s.
The exchange began when CNN moderator Dana Bash posed a question about the candidates’ fitness to serve at their advanced ages. Trump, who would be 82 at the end of a second term, seized the opportunity to boast about his physical condition and recent achievements on the golf course. “I’m in very good shape,” Trump declared, adding that he had recently won two club championships. “To do that, you have to be quite smart and you have to be able to hit the ball a long way,” he said, before taking a jab at Biden’s golfing abilities. “He can’t hit a ball 50 yards.”
Biden, who would be 86 at the end of a second term, was quick to respond. “I got my handicap, when I was vice president, down to six,” he said, challenging Trump to a golf match but with a condition. “I’m happy to play golf if you carry your own bag. Think you can do it?” Biden’s handicap, listed on the United States Golf Association’s website, was last updated in July 2018 as 6.7. Trump’s handicap, last updated in June 2021, is listed as 2.5.
The debate over golf handicaps quickly escalated, with Trump calling Biden’s claim “the biggest lie of all.” “I’ve seen your swing. I know your swing,” Trump retorted. Biden shot back, “You are a child,” to which Trump responded, “Let’s not act like children.”
The golf argument provided a moment of levity in an otherwise tense debate, but it also highlighted the candidates’ competitive natures. Social media erupted with reactions, with many users finding humor in the exchange. “These dudes have been calling each other the worst President in history for 80 straight minutes — and neither one of them got really offended until their golf skills were questioned,” tweeted columnist Gary Parrish.
The debate over golf handicaps also drew attention from notable figures in the sports world. Golfer Bryson DeChambeau, a friend of Trump’s and winner of two major championships, offered to help settle the argument by playing a match that he would show on his YouTube channel. Sports writer Rick Reilly, who has accused Trump of cheating at golf in his book, also weighed in, noting that caddies have nicknamed Trump “Pele” after the Brazilian soccer legend because he allegedly kicks the ball so much.
The golf spat overshadowed other critical issues discussed during the debate, such as the economy, immigration, and foreign policy. Both candidates have faced questions about their physical and mental fitness to lead the nation, and the golf argument did little to assuage those concerns. Instead, it provided a moment of entertainment and a distraction from the more serious topics at hand.
Despite the lighthearted nature of the golf argument, it underscored the deep-seated animosity between the two candidates. Throughout the debate, Biden repeatedly attacked Trump, bringing up everything from the former president’s recent felony conviction to his alleged insult of World War I veterans and his weight. Trump, in turn, declined to clearly state that he would accept the results of the November election, four years after promoting conspiracy theories about his defeat that culminated in the January 6 insurrection.
The golf argument also sparked a broader conversation about the role of age and physical fitness in presidential politics. Both candidates are among the oldest to ever run for the presidency, and their fitness to serve has been a topic of debate. While Trump used the golf argument to highlight his physical prowess, Biden attempted to turn the conversation back to policy achievements and his ability to lead.
In the end, the golf argument may have provided a moment of comic relief, but it also highlighted the challenges facing both candidates as they vie for the presidency. With the election just months away, the debate over golf handicaps is unlikely to sway voters, but it serves as a reminder of the personal and political stakes involved in the race for the White House.
As the debate concluded, social media continued to buzz with reactions, with many users calling for a golf match to settle the argument once and for all. “That’s it folks. Cancel the election. Let’s settle this on the golf course. Winner takes all. The only way to do it,” tweeted businessman Dave Portnoy. While the idea of a golf match to decide the presidency is far-fetched, it speaks to the enduring appeal of sports as a metaphor for competition and leadership.
In the end, the debate over golf handicaps may be remembered as a humorous footnote in the 2024 presidential race, but it also serves as a reminder of the personal and political stakes involved in the quest for the highest office in the land.
Source: Associated Press, CNN, United States Golf Association, Twitter
