Trump Aides Urge Him to Focus on Election, Not Golfing: Report

Aides to former President Donald Trump are reportedly working to transition him from the golf course back to the campaign trail.

During August, as his family gathers at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump appears to favor spending time on the links over engaging in campaign activities. Earlier this month, he seemed disengaged during a press conference at the golf course and expressed dissatisfaction when participating in a fundraiser with donor Miriam Adelson, according to reports by The Washington Post.

In his public comments, Trump suggested staying at home during the Democratic National Convention, choosing not to confront Vice President Kamala Harris directly in the ongoing political discussions.

Former aides shared with The Post that Trump prefers a more relaxed schedule while in Bedminster, often opting for golf. However, his aides expressed concern about him remaining at home and becoming frustrated while watching the Democratic convention.

The former president has reportedly grown irritated with media coverage highlighting his more relaxed campaign style in comparison to his rivals.

In response, the campaign has organized events to counteract the influence of the Democratic convention, even as Trump appears hesitant to adhere to formally planned schedules. Reports indicate he frequently strays from the intended topics during speeches, reflecting his ongoing difficulty in navigating a rapidly changing political landscape that recently saw the swift rise of Harris following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race and endorsement of her.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former spokesperson for Trump’s White House, resigned following the events of January 6, 2021. In her remarks to The Post, she noted, “The stakes for Trump this election are arguably the highest they’ve ever been. His criminal cases don’t disappear if he loses. Yet he seems to be phoning it in, running a remarkably low-energy, undisciplined campaign.”

She further commented on Trump’s current approach, stating, “From spending days off the campaign trail golfing to coming up with frankly weak nicknames like ‘Kamabala,’ it feels like he’s lost his mojo.”

In defense of Trump, spokesperson Steve Cheung claimed that the former president has maintained a “robust schedule” since launching his campaign. He emphasized, “He spent the entire week discussing substantive policy, something that Kamala Harris refuses to do, or can’t do.”

However, a source close to Trump’s campaign indicated that he does not find enjoyment in delivering policy-oriented speeches that fail to engage a live audience.

The former president has attempted to label Harris as a “communist,” and on one occasion mocked his aides for encouraging him to prioritize policy discussions over personal attacks.

While speaking at the southern border, Trump opted to criticize the Democrats’ choice of Harris to replace Biden rather than focusing on her immigration policies.

When addressing reporters in Las Vegas, Nevada, he asserted he was “doing great” in light of the leadership change at the top of the Democratic ticket. Nevertheless, he characterized the shift as “unfair.”

Trump commented, “I spent $100 million fighting against a man that won in their party, and we had a debate and the debate was good for me. And then all of a sudden they take him out and they put somebody new in that never got a vote.”