Thread: Trump and PGA Cut Ties for Upcoming 2015 Grand Slam of Golf

by Alex Swoyer
7 Jul 2015
Washington, DC

GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump and the PGA of America are now cutting their business ties following his statements on immigration during his presidential launch.

Trump stated in a press release Monday that the statements he made were toward illegal immigrants with ill intent — not Mexican citizens nor those coming to America legally for work and opportunity. He also stated the media has deliberately distorted his statement, and it has cost him business ties with Macy’s, Univision, NBC, and NASCAR — among others.

According to Trump’s press release Tuesday, “The parties have mutually agreed that it is in everyone’s best interest not to conduct the 2015 Grand Slam of Golf at Trump National Golf Club” in Los Angeles this October.

The press release states Trump doesn’t want his friends at the PGA to suffer from the backlash to his comments.

Trump stated, “I have great respect of the PGA of America and everything they stand for. This also allows me the time to rebuild the golf course in Los Angeles, fronting the Pacific Ocean and considered to be one of the finest parcels of land anywhere in the United States, into the course I always wanted it to be.”

http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...-slam-of-golf/

Tuesday, July 7, 2015 12:53 PM

By: REUTERS

WASHINGTON -- Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's organization said on Tuesday that a professional golfing event scheduled for October at a Trump course in Los Angeles will be moved, the latest fallout from his vitriol against illegal immigrants from Mexico.

A statement issued from Hope Hicks, Trump's campaign spokeswoman, said Trump met on Monday with representatives from the PGA of America and they agreed "it is in everyone's best interest not to conduct the 2015 Grand Slam of Golf at Trump National Golf Club, Los Angeles in October."

"Due to the controversy surrounding statements made by Mr. Trump having to do with illegal immigrants pouring into the United States from Mexico and other parts of the world, Mr. Trump does not want his friends at the PGA of America to suffer any consequences or backlash with respect to the Grand Slam of Golf," Hicks said.

The decision to move the Grand Slam of Golf event, which usually features a handful of the best professional golfers competing against one another, came a day after sports broadcaster ESPN announced it would move the ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic from Trump National Golf Club to Pelican Hill Golf Club in the Los Angeles area.

Since his June 16 candidacy announcement speech, in which he vented about illegal immigrants, Trump has seen a steady flow of business away from him. Univision declared it would not broadcast the Miss USA pageant, and NBC, Macy's, Serta and NASCAR cut ties with him.

In addition, the four major professional U.S. golfing organizations, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, USGA and PGA of America, issued a joint statement last week saying Trump's views were inconsistent with their goal of an inclusive and welcoming environment in the game.

The real estate mogul said on Monday that some of his criticism of Mexico had been distorted, but stuck to his stance that many illegal immigrants coming across the Mexican border are criminals.

In Tuesday's statement from his campaign, Trump said moving the Grand Slam event will give him time to rebuild the Los Angeles course.

"I have great respect for the PGA of America and everything they stand for," he said. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/Dona.../07/id/653822/