‘Swing and a Miss’: Trump’s Latest Golf Photo Sparks Health Rumors and Online Mockery

Former President Donald Trump often touts his golf game as proof of his vigor and discipline — but his latest look on the course has drawn more ridicule than respect. As the country waited to see how federal closure talks would unfold, Trump was spotted unwinding on the green at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The viral photo that surfaced soon after has sent social media into overdrive, fueling everything from fashion critiques to fresh speculation about his health.

Captured during a quiet afternoon round, the image shows Trump wearing a white golf shirt embroidered with his own name and title — “President Donald J. Trump” — just above the heart, as if to remind himself (and everyone else) of his former office. The ensemble also featured a dangling United States Space Force patch sewn onto one sleeve, a detail that quickly became comedic fodder for thousands of online commentators. (Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images; Source: CNN)

“Not the shirt with his name and title embroidered on it,” one person wrote on Threads, while another quipped, “He has to have his name stitched on so he doesn’t forget who he is.”

A third chimed in, “He’s got ‘President’ written on his chest — will he forget otherwise?”

‘He Looks Like He’s Dead’: Social Media Reacts

The Threads post, captioned “I still can’t get over that millions of Americans believe THIS is their savior,” instantly drew thousands of reactions. While Trump’s devoted base praised him for staying active, most responses mocked his appearance, calling it “unflattering,” “chaotic,” and “unpresidential.”

Observers quickly noticed that Trump’s golf attire — paired with a white version of his signature “Make America Great Again” cap — appeared wrinkled and ill-fitting. The conversation, however, took a sharper turn once users focused on Trump’s midsection. Critics pointed out what they called a “dramatic increase” in his weight, prompting an avalanche of speculation about his health and stamina.

“What an unflattering photo. He’s aging fast,” one commenter said. Another added, “I’ve never seen a leader wear an ill-fitting shirt with his name on it.”

Others took a darker tone. “Is Mar-a-Lago a locked unit so he doesn’t wander off?” one joked. Another mocked the official weight listed on Trump’s recent medical report: “Bro, they think that’s what 6'4” and 220 looks like?” (The Guardian).

Still others made comparisons to President Joe Biden, noting that the 82-year-old Democrat “looks healthier and more alert” despite being older — a talking point that resurfaced after Trump appeared visibly winded during a recent LIV Golf event in Florida. (The Washington Post).

Golf, Image, and the Cost of Leisure

Golf has long been a centerpiece of Trump’s public persona. He’s claimed to have won “dozens of club championships” and frequently touts his supposed low handicap — though golf analysts have questioned those figures for years (Golf Digest).

Since leaving office, Trump has split his time between Mar-a-Lago and his Trump National Doral course, both of which serve as backdrops for political meetings and promotional videos. He has also appeared in golf vlogs with his 18-year-old granddaughter, Kai Trump, who often films their outings for social media. Her goal, according to People, is to “show a softer, more relatable side of her grandfather to younger audiences.”

Trump’s Doral course — a 7,326-yard, par-72 layout spanning more than 330 acres — remains his favorite. He frequently plays there during weekends, often arriving in a multi-vehicle motorcade, complete with Secret Service escort and golf carts bearing the presidential seal.

But outside his circle of fans, critics have long scrutinized how much his golf habit has cost American taxpayers.

According to the watchdog website Did Trump Golf Today, which tracks his outings using official schedules and pool reports, Trump has spent 72 of his first 295 days in his second term golfing — roughly one in every four days. The site estimates his travel and security costs have exceeded $100 million since returning to office, a figure consistent with his first-term total of $151.5 million, as reported by Forbes and Business Insider.

“He loves the game,” wrote Politico, “but his version of golf is part sport, part performance, and part political theater.”

When Image Becomes the Message

The latest photo only reinforces that perception. For many viewers, Trump’s embroidered shirt and awkward stance symbolized a man more concerned with maintaining his brand than his dignity.

“It’s not just about golf,” one media commentator wrote in Vanity Fair. “Every public outing for Trump is a stage-managed reminder that he still considers himself president — even when his shirt has to say it for him.”

Still, for his supporters, Trump’s casual confidence and defiance of decorum are precisely what make him appealing. “He’s authentic, he’s himself,” one fan posted on Truth Social. “He doesn’t care what the media says. That’s strength.”

Yet for his detractors, the viral image encapsulated the opposite: decline, vanity, and delusion. “He’s not just playing golf,” one user remarked, “he’s playing pretend.”

A Familiar Pattern of Viral Moments

This is hardly Trump’s first viral golf moment. Earlier this year, a video surfaced showing him driving a golf cart on the green — a move explicitly forbidden by course rules. The clip quickly sparked outrage among golf purists and renewed questions about whether the former president believes rules apply to him (CNN).

It also reignited a wave of memes speculating about Trump’s health, stamina, and obsession with self-promotion. As The Guardian noted, “Every Trump golf outing ends up less about the sport and more about the spectacle.”

Whether it’s his name stitched into his shirt or his insistence on being addressed as “President Trump” long after leaving office, the message is clear: for Trump, image is inseparable from identity.