Golf is calling Trump a liar

(Image credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

"The White House is a real dump," Sports Illustrated quoted President Trump as saying this week — words that, in addition to sparking outrage and offense, were vehemently denied by the commander in chief. "I love the White House, one of the most beautiful buildings (homes) I have ever seen," Trump tweeted Wednesday. "But Fake News said I called it a dump — TOTALLY UNTRUE."

Golf, though, is challenging Trump on his claim. Sports Illustrated's Alan Shipnuck, who first reported the quote, told his colleague, Michael Bamberger, on the Golf podcast that Trump lambasted the White House "in front of eight or nine" different witnesses:

[White House spokeswoman Hope Hicks] tried the same line on me, "[That quote is] a lie and needs to be retracted." I explained to her: It's not a lie. The president said this in front of eight or nine members and staffers at [Trump] Bedminster. It was his first visit to the club after he had been residing in the White House. It was a moment of candor. Someone who was a part of that conversation relayed it to me. I found this person to be an extremely credible source on any number of topics.The week of the U.S. Women's Open [in July], I heard the same story told by two or three different other sources. This is certainly a moment that has already passed into legend at Trump Bedminster. It might be inconvenient for her boss and she might wish he didn't say it, but it's not a lie. [Golf]

Bamberger added: "Trump has a sense of humor; he's got a sort of wise-guy, New York sense of humor. He doesn't really think the White House is a dump. The White House is not a dump. He's comparing it to the gilded greatness of Bedminster, which is his idea of beauty. He's sort of trying to be funny, but whether he's trying to be funny or not, he's the president of the United States and people have such passionate feelings about the White House and the presidency."

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Listen to the podcast via Golf below. Jeva Lange

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.