President Trump spent Friday morning at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, taking time away from Washington just one day after attending a “LIV Dinner” event at his Trump Doral golf course. The dinner was tied to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf tour, a league Trump has enthusiastically supported since its inception. His schedule shows that he remains personally involved in the ongoing talks between LIV and the PGA Tour, as both sides continue trying to end their long-running rivalry.
Trump has been a vocal player in the behind-the-scenes negotiations, with several of his golf properties—including Doral and Bedminster—hosting LIV tournaments. When asked Thursday about his role, the president confirmed that he’s still engaged in the discussions, signaling he’s not stepping away from the golf business even as his administration juggles domestic and global issues.
Later Friday, Trump was expected to headline a high-dollar fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago for a super PAC supporting his political agenda. While allies have framed these appearances as part of Trump’s broader engagement with economic development and diplomacy, critics saw them differently.
Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a Democrat, took a jab at Trump’s decision to hit the links. “He’s had a long, hard week of crashing the stock market and making virtually everything more expensive for middle-class Americans,” she quipped. “But at least he’s getting some time to unwind????”
The senator’s sarcasm came after days of economic turmoil following Trump’s tariff announcements, which spooked Wall Street and triggered a major selloff. The markets have struggled to regain stability, even after stronger-than-expected job numbers were released Friday morning.
In response to criticism, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly did not directly address the president’s Florida golf outing. Instead, she issued a general defense, saying, “President Trump is always working on behalf of the American people, and his longstanding relationships with world leaders have led to massive investments into the U.S. economy and no new wars during his first term.”
However, Trump’s decision to skip Friday’s dignified transfer ceremony for four U.S. soldiers who died in a training accident in Lithuania drew additional fire. The somber event took place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended in the president’s place. Democrats criticized Trump for not being there in person, especially given that he remained in Florida for the day.
The absence adds to the ongoing debate about how the president balances his public duties with personal and business interests, particularly at a time when both domestic tensions and global challenges are intensifying.