Arnold Palmer’s true feelings towards Donald Trump have been revealed after the former president made a lewd joke about the legendary golfer’s manhood.
The Republican candidate shared a rather intimate story about Palmer while speaking at a rally at Latrobe airport, which is now named after the seven-time major winner.
Trump regaled his supporters with tales about the late golf icon, who grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
‘When he took showers with the other pros they came out saying ‘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 went on to spin 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 passed away at the age of 87 just weeks before Trump was elected in 2016, was known to be politically conservative, striking up a friendship with Dwight D. Eisenhower with the pair teaming up to win a charity event in 1964.
But the late golfer’s opinion of the Republican candidate soured during his first presidential election campaign, according to his daughter.
Peg Palmer revealed in a 2018 interview with Sporting News that her father had dealings with Trump in the past but ‘saw a different side of him’ during the presidential campaign.’
‘My dad didn’t like people who act like they’re better than other people,’ Peg said. ‘He had no patience for people who are dishonest and cheat. My dad was disciplined. He wanted to be a good role model. He was appalled by Trump’s lack of civility and what he began to see as Trump’s lack of character.’
Peg Palmer (second right) is pictured with her parents Arnold (second left) and Winnie in 1957
Palmer regularly played with former president Dwight D. Eisenhower (right)
She pinpointed one moment in particular from the 2016 campaign when Palmer watched the candidate on television.
‘My dad made a sound of disgust — like “uck” or “ugg” — like he couldn’t believe the arrogance and crudeness of this man who was the nominee of the political party that he believed in,’ she recalled. ‘Then he said, “He’s not as smart as we thought he was.”
‘What would my dad think of Donald Trump today?’ Ms. Palmer asked herself. ‘I think he’d cringe.’
In addition to Trump’s sporting tales, Saturday’s rally took an athletic tone when former NFL star Antonio Brown addressed the crowd.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver slammed the ‘crazy’ media and mocked the Kamala Harris’ vice presidential pick, Tim Walz.
Tim Walz is known as ‘coach’ around the Harris campaign for his years as a high school football and basketball coach.
‘He isn’t a real football coach,’ said Brown, who made his name as a spectacular wide receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers. ‘He couldn’t guard me.’
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Antonio Brown whipped up the crowd ahead of Trump’s arrival
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 likened his own rise against the odds as a lowly sixth round draft pick to Trump’s unlikely emergence as president.
Trump is all in on Pennsylvania this weekend.
On Sunday he mans a McDonald’s fry station near Philadelphia, holds a town hall in Lancaster, and then will be at the Pittsburgh Steelers game in the evening.
