Donald Trump’s year continues to implode, beautifully: both ESPN and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America have decided not to hold their tournaments on Trump-owned golf courses. Is there a more elderly and blindingly white community than golf, one that might still support Trump? No? That’s the oldest, whitest one? Dang.
Trump said last week that the exciting world of golf would support his racist statements about Mexican immigrants because “they know I’m right.” But ESPN announced Monday that it would not hold its ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic at the Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles, scheduled for July 14th, because Donald Trump is, to paraphrase, an embarrassment and a buffoon. The organization issued a statement which read:
We decided it was appropriate to change the venue, and are grateful for the opportunity to stage the event at Pelican Hill on short notice. Diversity and inclusion are core values at ESPN and our decision also supports that commitment.
That immediately raised the question of what the PGA, one of the biggest golfing organizations, would do in turn. Last week, after Trump made the “they know I’m right” remark, the PGA and its related organizations released a statement to the Golf Channel that read, in part, “[W]e feel compelled to clarify that those remarks do not reflect the views of our organizations… While the LPGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour and USGA do not usually comment on presidential politics, Mr. Trump’s comments are inconsistent with our strong commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment in the game of golf.”