Lawmakers must honor oath, ensure checks and balances

Fellow golfers:

ABC reported in 2022 the Trump organization charged the Secret Service $1.4 million from January 2017 to September 2021 to stay at his properties while he enjoyed a round and cheated (not surprisingly) at his score. 

According to an USA Today article, Trump’s nearly 300 golf trips/stays cost the American taxpayer $140 million between January 2017 to October 2020. Sports reporter Rick Reilly, author of the "Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump," documented Trump’s golf course etiquette. As in business and politics, he cheats bigly at golf. It's no surprise when the New York Times reported Trump recently convened an “important” meeting between executives of the PGA tour and the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf.

The two groups have sparred over which pros can play in what tournaments. What a nice gesture of national importance.  However, the Trump family is a LIV Golf business partner, and their courses have hosted LIV tournaments. Could this be a conflict of interest? You bet your bingo, bango, bongo it is. 

Trump is using the power of the office to make some cash and the power of the Justice Department as a support structure for the Trump organization. I wish our Idaho congregation in Washington would not be complacent and enable this Trump 2.0 behavior in 2025 politics as Trump has shown in business and on the links. Ask our lawmakers to honor the oath to the constitution and honor the Executive, Legislative and Judicial checks and balances.

STEVEN ANDERSON

Sagle