Donald Trump may end up violating the US constitution if his latest golfing venture in the UK succeeds, experts have warned.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer’s government attempts to woo the American administration by hosting one of the world’s most famous golf tournaments at a course owned by the president.
Government officials have reportedly asked senior executives at the R&A, which organises the prestigious Open championship, if they would hold the event at the Turnberry golf resort in 2028.
According to the Guardian, the president has raised the potential for an Open championship at his course “multiple times” with Starmer, while the British government is said to be “doing everything it can to get close to Trump”.
The Open is one of the four men’s major golf championships, and was founded in 1860, making it the sport’s oldest tournament in the world.
On 11 January 2021, in the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, the R&A said it would not stage a championship at Turnberry “in the foreseeable future”.
While the R&A is not owned by the British government and Downing Street has said the decision the decision will be made by golf chiefs, the organisation has said choosing Turnberry as a venue would require public investment given the “logistical and commercial challenges”.
This includes the need to improve road, rail and accommodation infrastructure before any possible tournament, as the R&A continues to conduct “feasibility work” around the plan.
However, US ethics experts said if Turnberry is chosen as the 2028 Open venue, it may break the spirit of the constitution’s emoluments clause, which forbids federal officials from accepting benefits from foreign or state governments without the approval of Congress.
Richard Painter, a professor of law and former chief ethic lawyer at the White House between 2005 and 2007, told the Guardian: “This apparent precondition of government investment, along with the prime minister’s role in trying to influence decisions of R&A about tournament location, looks like sufficient government involvement to meet the meaning of a foreign emolument under the emoluments clause.”
Another expert said it was “highly unethical” to exploit the presidency for personal gain.
Jordan Libowitz, from the ethics watchdog Crew, said: “If moving the tournament there would result in British government funds being spent at the course, it would likely violate the constitution’s prohibition on foreign emoluments.”
Styled Trump Turnberry, the resort has three links course, a golf academy and a five-star hotel, and was the venue for the 1977 Open Championship, where Tom Watson narrowly defeated Jack Nicklaus.
The property was bought by the Trump Organisation in 2014, who changed the name to its current title.
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.