It’s no secret that former U.S. President Donald Trump loves to golf — and after the U.S. presidential debate that took place between Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden, it’s clear that Biden enjoys golfing, too.
In between talking points like the economy, abortion access and immigration, the two presidential frontrunners got into a heated exchange about which one of them was the better golfer.
Now, Trump is looking to put his golf swing where his mouth is. During a Tuesday night (July 9) campaign rally at his Miami, Fla.-area golf resort, the Republican candidate challenged Biden to an 18-hole showdown at his Trump National Doral golf course. He even upped the ante by saying if he lost, he’d donate $1 million to the charity of Biden’s choice.
“It will be among one of the most-watched sporting events in history, maybe even bigger than the Ryder Cup or the Masters [Tournament],” Trump told the crowd.
“I’ll bet you he doesn’t take the offer. Because he’s all talk,” he added.
Whether or not the match-up would indeed be “one of the most-watched sporting events in history,” it’s a pretty safe bet that lots of fans on both sides of the political idea have thoughts on who would win. In country music, there’s one particular singer who’d be able to comment on the odds — because he’s golfed with Trump before.
That’s Jason Aldean, who attended a New Year’s Eve party Trump held at Mar-a-Lago with his wife Brittany a couple of years back. He shared a few photos of his time on the golf course with the at-the-time sitting president, describing Trump as the “G.O.A.T.” and saying the New Year’s party was “the best of all time.”
Aldean hasn’t shared his thoughts on Trump’s challenge to Biden, but after golfing with him, the singer only had good things to say about the president’s golf game.
“He’s a guy that plays probably four, five times a week, so he’s actually a really good golfer,” Aldean told Taste of Country Nights’ Evan Paul after his own golf match-up with Trump.
“For me…I could not play for six months and then go shoot a 95. Or I could play every day and shoot a 95. So yeah. I’m not terrible but I’m not awesome either,” Aldean continued.
Of his interaction with Trump, Aldean says he enjoyed the experience — and he might even have been a little starstruck. “Being in this business, you’re around a lot of celebrities and singers and actors, that kind of thing, but being around somebody like a president, that’s a whole different level of celebrity. Especially with President Trump,” he added. “So it was really cool, man.”
As for Biden’s golf game? Aldean doesn’t sound so confident. After the golf talk that ensued at June’s presidential debate, the singer made some jokes at the current president’s expense while onstage at a show.
“The biggest issue I had [with the debate] was Biden saying he was a six handicap. I’m calling bulls–t,” he quipped, also telling the crowd that Biden had asked permission to use one of his songs in his campaign, and Aldean declined.
It’s no secret that Aldean is a Trump supporter, and that he doesn’t see eye to eye with Biden’s politics. He and his wife have both been increasingly vocal in supporting conservative ideals on social media over the past few years.
Carena Liptak is an Associate Editor and staff writer at Taste of Country. She specializes in breaking country music news, interviews and lists. In particular, she’s got a soft spot for sad songs — check out her roundup of the 50 Saddest Country Songs of All Time!
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Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker