Donald Trump told 'not to play golf until after the election' over security fears

Donald Trump told ‘not to play golf until after the election’ over security fears

Posted by Admin October 10, 2024 Golf

Donald Trump has not played golf since an apparent attempt on his life and reportedly will not do so again until after November’s US presidential election.

The former president, 78, is an avid golfer but has been told that federal agents were not satisfied he could be well enough protected if he were to play, Sky News’ partner network NBC News reports.

The concerns were relayed in two discussions with Mr Trump since the incident near one of his golf courses on 15 September.

One conversation was with Ronald Rowe, the acting director of the Secret Service, and the other with officials from the national intelligence director’s office.

Being unable to play golf is a significant change to Mr Trump’s schedule and lifestyle.

He has 18 golf properties around the world and the sport has been a fixture of his life long before he waded into US politics.

If Mr Trump goes without golf until the election it will be the longest he has gone without the game since the COVID pandemic, NBC said.

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However, his penchant for the greens exposed him to potential danger last month.

Ryan Wesley Routh has been charged with attempting to kill the former president when he was camped out near where Mr Trump was playing golf in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has reportedly requested the use of military aircraft and vehicles to protect the Republican candidate during the final weeks of the White House race against Democrat Kamala Harris, with the election on 5 November.

The request follows the golf course incident and a failed assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania where a bullet grazed his ear on 13 July.

Last month, the Trump campaign said he had been briefed by US intelligence officials on alleged threats from Iran to assassinate him.

They also reportedly asked for expanded flight restrictions over his homes and campaign rallies, as well as prepositioning ballistic glass at events in battleground states, according to the Washington Post.

Presidential candidates are protected by the US Secret Service.

A representative for the service said “the former president is receiving the highest levels of protection” but confirmed the Trump campaign had requested more.

Speaking to reporters, US President Joe Biden said he has authorised security to protect Mr Trump as if he were a sitting president, and if Mr Trump’s request falls in that category it should be granted.