Donald Trump might be popular among quite a few professional golfers and golf fans, but Rory McIlroy is clearly not among his supporters. And that appears to have led to a bit of a feud between McIlroy and Trump and his supporters.
It all started back in 2020 when Rory McIlroy blasted Donald Trump for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There’s some stuff that just is terrible,” McIlroy said of Trump’s leadership according to ESPN. “It’s not the way a leader should act. There is a bit of diplomacy that you need to show, and I just don’t think he’s showing that, especially in these times.”
McIlroy then made it clear that he would not play with Trump on the golf course anymore in the future.
“I don’t know if he’d want to play with me again after what I just said,” McIlroy said. “I know it’s very self-serving of me to say no, and if I don’t, then it means I’m not putting myself in position to be under scrutiny and that I’m avoiding that.
“But no, I wouldn’t.”
While Trump has not explicitly spoken negatively against McIlroy, he made it very clear that he was rooting for Bryson DeChambeau over McIlroy on Sunday. And after DeChambeau won the championship, Trump had a pretty strong message of congratulations for the LIV Golf star that also appeared to include some jabs at McIlroy.
Trump praised DeChambeau for his “toughness and inner strength,” while he was under “massive pressure,” which seemed to be a shot at McIlroy, who obviously choked under that same pressure. Trump also praised DeChambeau for representing the United States (McIlroy is from Ireland) and highlighted his performance on the 18th hole specifically, where McIlroy missed a crucial putt that essentially lost the tournament.
Needless to say, it does not appear that the two are all that fond of each other, and that’s led to a lot of reactions on social media.
Bryson DeChambeau is a big fan of President Trump. Root for him to beat the Trump Hater Rory McIlroy. #USOpen
pic.twitter.com/GdbpdBF5ut— Charles R Downs (@TheCharlesDowns) June 16, 2024
I wake up, and this first thing I do is to check how Rory Mcilroy did in the golf. I found that people can hate someone or just not like them for any reason, but hating Rory because he doesn't like Trump is childish.
— Lisa ~~ (@tribalreigns) June 17, 2024
Please President Trump don’t let liberal soy boy Rory ‘Divorce-Ilroy’ Mcilroy win the US open over MAGA patriot Bryson
— Jacquarious Jones (junior associate) (@Jacquarious49) June 16, 2024
It’s beautiful watching Trump Hater Rory McIlroy choke while the crowd chants “USA USA USA” #USOpen
pic.twitter.com/uDchfy21L0— Charles R Downs (@TheCharlesDowns) June 16, 2024
95% of runners up don’t stay to shake the winner’s hand, but because it’s Rory McIlroy, this has to be a conversation. Interesting that every single person criticizing Rory is a Trump supporter. Sucks to see golf this politicized
— BabyFormula (@BabyF0rmula) June 17, 2024
🇺🇸just found out Rory McIlroy is a Trump hater and Bryson deChambeau is friend of Trump ! Winning 🥇
— Port Politics (@PortPolitics1) June 17, 2024
I love pro golf and despise Rory McIlroy for disrespecting President Trump after being criticized for playing with him…watching McIlroy choke on 18 was incredible! https://t.co/h2owt2Xrjg
— @azntrnr (@azntrnr1) June 17, 2024
Bryson DeChambeau is a big fan of President Trump. He went on to beat the Trump Hater Rory McIlroy. #USOpen
— intheMatrixxx (@intheMatrixxx) June 17, 2024
PSA: This is what happens when you are a Starbucks loving and Nike wearing LIBERAL. Ladies and Gentlemen, raise your kids to be a patriot, republican and UNITED STATES open Champion like Bryson DeChambeau. Not soy-boy Rory McIlroy. Gary out. #TRUMP #Golf #Bryson https://t.co/nVCw1PwMcg
— Gary Cole (Corporate) (@cigars190) June 17, 2024
Clearly, people have a lot to say about the apparent feud.
