The claim: Image shows Trump playing golf after an assassination attempt
A July 14 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows former President Donald Trump behind the wheel of a golf cart.
“Imagine getting shot at 7pm and still making your 9am tee time,” reads text above the image.
The post was liked more than 40,000 times in four days. Similar posts appeared on X, formerly Twitter, including one from conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza.
More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page
Our rating: False
The image does not show Trump playing golf after the assassination attempt. It was taken in 2022 at one of Trump’s golf courses in Virginia.
Image shows Trump at Virginia golf in 2022
Trump traveled to his residence at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, after surviving a July 13 assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, according to multiple news reports.
But the image in the Instagram post doesn’t show the former president on a golf course the next day. Instead, it dates to Sept. 12, 2022, when an Associated Press photographer captured the image of Trump at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.
There are no credible news reports of Trump playing golf the day after the assassination attempt. His campaign did not respond to a request for comment from USA Today.
Trump wasn’t at his golf club for long. He was there for the first half of July 14, the day after the shooting, before he left to attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He made his first public appearance since the shooting at the convention on July 15. He has since appeared at each night of the convention with a bandage over his right ear, which was injured in the assassination attempt.
Trump formally accepted his party’s nomination for president on July 18.
USA Today reached out to social media user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Reuters also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
- The Wall Street Journal, July 15, Trump Returns to New Jersey as Planned
- CBS News, July 14, Trump recovering in New Jersey after assassination attempt
- ABC News (YouTube), July 14, Donald Trump arrives in New Jersey after assassination attempt
- Associated Press, Sept. 12, 2022, Justice Dept. OK with 1 Trump pick for Mar-a-Lago arbiter
- USA TODAY, July 14, Donald Trump travels to Milwaukee after shocking attack, prepares to tap a running mate and claim nomination
USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta. Golfweek is part of the USA Today Network.