Arnold Palmer’s true feelings towards Donald Trump have been revealed after the former president made a lewd joke about the legendary golfer’s masculinity.
The Republican candidate told a rather intimate story about Palmer at a rally at Latrobe airport, now named after the seven-time major winner.
Trump regaled his supporters with stories about the late golf icon, who grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
“When he went to take a shower with the other professionals, they came out and said, ‘Oh my God.’ “I had to say it…I had to tell you the shower part because it’s true,” the 78-year-old said.
Trump then told the story of Palmer’s early life, describing how the talented young golfer grew into a wealthy champion who bought the local golf club and put his father in charge.
Arnold Palmer’s (right) true feelings towards Donald Trump (left) have been revealed
But despite Trump’s fondness for the former PGA Tour star, it appears Palmer did not reciprocate the sentiment.
Palmer, who died at the age of 87 just weeks before Trump was elected in 2016, was known as a political conservative and struck up a friendship with Dwight D. Eisenhower, with the pair working together to win a charity event in 1964.
But the late golfer’s opinion of the Republican candidate deteriorated during his first presidential campaign, his daughter said.
Peg Palmer revealed in a 2018 interview with Sportnieuws that her father had dealt with Trump in the past, but “saw a different side of him” during the presidential campaign.
“My father didn’t like people who pretend to be better than other people,” Peg said. ‘He had no patience for people who are dishonest and cheat. My father was disciplined. He wanted to be a good role model. He was shocked by Trump’s lack of civility and by what he came to see as Trump’s lack of character.”
Peg Palmer (second from right) is pictured with her parents Arnold (second from left) and Winnie in 1957
Palmer played regularly with former President Dwight D. Eisenhower (right)
She highlighted one moment in particular from the 2016 campaign, when Palmer watched the candidate on television.
“My father made a noise of disgust – like ‘uck’ or ‘ugg’ – as if he couldn’t believe the arrogance and rudeness of this man, who had been nominated for the political party he believed in,” she recalled. “Then he said, ‘He’s not as smart as we thought.’
“What would my father think of Donald Trump today?” Mrs. Palmer wondered. “I think he’s cringing.”
In addition to Trump’s sports talk, Saturday’s rally took on an athletic tone as former NFL star Antonio Brown addressed the crowd.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver has criticized the “crazy” media and mocked Kamala Harris’ vice presidential pick Tim Walz.
Tim Walz is known as a “coach” around the Harris campaign because of his years as a high school football and basketball coach.
“He’s not a real football coach,” said Brown, who made a name for himself as a spectacular wide receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “He couldn’t guard me.”
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Antonio Brown got the crowd moving before Trump arrived
The ex-Steelers star, who left Pennsylvania in 2018 when he was traded to the Raiders, addressed the crowd of Trump supporters after teasing his appearance on social media earlier this week.
He compared his own rise, against all odds, as a lowly sixth-round draft pick to Trump’s improbable rise to the presidency.
Trump is all in for Pennsylvania this weekend.
On Sundays he mans a McDonald’s fry station near Philadelphia, has a town hall in Lancaster and will be at the Pittsburgh Steelers game in the evening.