Amid trade talks between the US and five African leaders at the White House, the leader of Senegal gave praise to President Trump’s golf game.
President Trump arrives at Trump International Golf Club on Friday
President Trump is spending his weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home and Trump International Golf Club on April 4, 2024.
- Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye called Trump a ‘tremendous’ golfer with skills in ‘concentration and precision’ that ‘make for a great leader.’
- The compliments came as Trump met at the White House with five African leaders to discuss development of rare minerals and fossil fuels.
WASHINGTON – One of five African leaders eager to engage in trade talks at the White House called President Donald Trump a “tremendous” golfer and suggested he could invest in his next course in Senegal.
The official talks got into the weeds of potential development of rare minerals and fossil fuels with Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal. Trump had earlier reached a deal for rare earths with Ukraine in exchange for continued assistance in its war against Russia.
But Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye teed off with flattery in both foreign affairs and in sport. “I know you are a tremendous golf player,” Faye told the U.S. president who also owns some of the world’s most iconic courses. “Golf requires concentration and precision, qualities that also make for a great leader.”
Faye suggested a new course to boost his country’s tourism would be only six hours’ flying time from New York, Miami or Europe.
“So, perhaps an investment could be made in a golf course in Senegal,” Faye added. “That would be an opportunity for you to show off your skills on the golf course, too.”
Trump replied that it was “nice.”
“Some way to show off my skills,” Trump said. “It’s a long trip to show off my skill, but that’s really nice.”
The exchange followed a pattern of foreign leaders complimenting Trump.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented Trump with a copy of a letter nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize when they met July 7. The African leaders also said he deserved a peace prize.
Ireland’s Prime Minister Michael Martin in March praised Trump as the first president known to have invested in Ireland, through his Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg.
Keir Starmer, the United Kingdom’s prime minister, had golf courses and royalty in his pocket when meeting with Trump in February. Trump has two golf courses in Scotland and local authorities are preparing a possible visit later this month.
Starmer invited Trump to an unprecedented invitation for a second state visit with King Charles.
“This is really special,” Starmer said. “This is unprecedented.”