Donald Trump just lost his second golf tournament in less than 48 hours
One day after ESPN announced it would move its ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic out of Donald Trump’s Trump National Los Angeles course, the Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA) said Tuesday it would be relocating its 2015 PGA Grand Slam of Golf tournament away from the same course.
“The PGA of America met with Donald J. Trump yesterday and the parties mutually agreed that it is in the best interest of all not to conduct the 2015 PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Trump National Los Angeles,” the group said in a statement.
The Trump Organization released its own statement, saying the company did not wish to have the PGA, “suffer any consequences or backlash” by its leader’s recent comments about Mexican immigrants.
Trump himself added of the situation, “This also allows me the time to rebuild the golf course in Los Angeles, fronting the Pacific Ocean and considered to be one of the finest parcels of land anywhere in the United States, into the course I always wanted it to be.”
The PGA has numerous events scheduled in the coming years at Trump-owned courses, and the AP reports Trump recently told the Golf Channel that he has received “tremendous support” from the golf world “because they all know I’m right.
But the PGA, along with the Ladies Professional Golfer’s Association (LPGA) and the U.S. Golfer’s Association (USGA), which also have upcoming Trump-hosted tournaments, issued a joint-statement last week saying Trump was wrong and denounced Trump’s remarks.
“In response to Mr. Trump’s comments about the golf industry `knowing he is right’ in regards to his recent statements about Mexican immigrants, we feel compelled to clarify that those remarks do not reflect the views of our organizations,” the groups said. “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.”
Univision, NBC and Macy’s have also all cut ties with the real estate mogul in response to his remarks, which accused Mexican immigrants of being criminals, drug dealers and rapists.
Trump remains undeterred by the backlash, perhaps bolstered by a blip-surge in his poll numbers: Yesterday he released a statement doubling down on what he sees as the hazards of Mexican immigration into the U.S., saying such individuals, and immigrants in general, are carrying diseases.
“Tremendous infectious disease is pouring across the border. The United States has become a dumping ground for Mexico and, in fact, for many other parts of the world,” he said.
Rob covers business, economics and the environment for Fusion. He previously worked at Business Insider. He grew up in Chicago.