On Masters Weekend MAGA Celebrates Golf, Not Chess
As the Masters Golf Tournament unfolds this weekend, it’s a fitting moment to reflect on how President Trump’s preference for golf over chess offers a unique lens through which to understand his geopolitical and economic strategies. Unlike chess, a game bound by rigid rules and a defined board where each piece has a prescribed role, golf is a sport of adaptability, creativity, and individual flair—qualities that Trump has consistently brought to his leadership style. On the golf course, Trump is known for his unorthodox approach, often taking risks with bold shots and leveraging the terrain to his advantage, much like how he navigates international relations. His decision to engage directly with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un in 2018, bypassing traditional diplomatic channels, mirrors a golfer’s choice to take a daring shortcut over a hazard rather than playing it safe, a move that left world leaders accustomed to the predictable “chessboard” of diplomacy visibly unsettled.
This golf-inspired mindset also explains Trump’s economic maneuvers, which often prioritize instinct and leverage over conventional strategies. In chess, players meticulously plan several moves ahead within a constrained framework, but Trump’s economic policies—like imposing tariffs on China in 2018 to force trade negotiations—reflect a golfer’s willingness to take a high-risk, high-reward swing. These tariffs, which disrupted global markets and drew criticism from allies like the European Union, were less about following a predefined playbook and more about creating leverage, much like a golfer might aim for a difficult pin placement to gain an edge. World leaders, expecting a U.S. president to adhere to the established rules of multilateral trade agreements, were caught off guard by Trump’s willingness to “play the course” his way, prioritizing American interests over global consensus and forcing others to adapt to his unpredictable rhythm.
Trump’s golfing approach, however, has broader implications for how he views leadership and power, often causing consternation among those who expect a more structured, chess-like governance. On the golf course, there’s no opponent dictating your moves—you set your own pace, choose your own shots, and sometimes even bend the rules to your advantage, as Trump has been rumored to do with his scores. This translates to his geopolitical strategy, seen in actions like withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017, a move that defied international norms but aligned with his focus on domestic economic priorities. For world leaders accustomed to a POTUS who plays within the boundaries of traditional alliances and agreements, Trump’s golf-like approach—where the only real rule is to win on your terms—has been a source of frustration, but also a reminder that his strategies, while unconventional, are often effective in reshaping the game to his advantage.
