President Donald Trump seems to have found a golf buddy and a political ally in South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.
Trump and Graham played golf together for the third time since Columbus Day weekend, meeting up at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Dec. 10. The occasion marked the 82nd of Trump's presidency during which he spent at least a portion of the day at one of the 17 golf clubs his Trump Organization either owns or manages.
Graham posted a complimentary message after the round, which began sometime after Trump arrived at the club around 10 a.m. following a short drive from his private Mar-a-Lago club on that Sunday morning.
Trump International Golf Club is a spectacular golf course.
Great day of fun playing with @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/92Xjk8d8B2
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 10, 2017
The White House even acknowledged Trump and Graham were playing together.
"The president is playing a round of golf with Sen. Lindsey Graham, where the two are discussing the tax cuts and reform legislation and the importance of fully funding our national security needs in upcoming government spending negotiations," according to White House spokesman Raj Shah.
It's rare for the Trump administration to even acknowledge Trump is playing golf, much less with who, though Trump hasn't been afraid to share who he's playing with when he finds them famous enough. He's shared when he's played with Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson, but he also has kept rounds with Rory McIlroy and Jack Nicklaus on the down low.
Trump has played with other elected American political officials since taking office, including Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and outgoing Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, who has become one of the most vocal Republican critics of Trump.
So far, this is the third time Graham and Trump have played golf together, which seemingly makes him the clubhouse leader for rounds of golf among politicos with 45. Perhaps Graham's secret to getting invited back is indeed flattery. After this third round of golf, Graham complimented Trump's club. Following their first round, Graham insisted Trump shot 73 in remarkably windy conditions in northern Virginia when they played at Trump National Washington D.C.
Really enjoyed a round of golf with President @realDonaldTrump today.
President Trump shot a 73 in windy and wet conditions!
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 9, 2017
No one's really buying that but the Commander-in-Chief. And maybe, for Graham, that's the only person who matters.
