President Donald Trump has long expressed his affection and support for Tiger Woods, and is now taking the unusual step of awarding the young golfer with the Medal of Freedom, the highest award a civilian can receive.
The problem is, like in many areas of Trump’s life, that the situation is muddied by business entanglements.
According to the New York Times, Woods designed a golf course for Trump’s luxury complex in Dubai. Trump also named a villa after him at the Trump National Doral Miami. Since then, Trump has been eager to tout his business partnership with Woods.
Even beyond the dubious move of bestowing such a prestigious award on a business partner, Trump has also ruffled feathers by giving Woods the award when he’s still mid-career. Very few athletes have ever been given the award in general, and for those who have, it’s been a lifetime achievement acknowledgement for changing the sport forever.
Trump is slated to award Woods the Medal on Monday.
The shameless Tiger Woods will shamelessly accept this award from the shameful president. They deserve each other but why us? Why us?
In future history books, awards given by Trump should be given footnotes in order to differentiate them from real honors.
Woods is as morally bankrupt as Trump but he at least has real achievements to his name.
It is remarkable how donald cheapens everything when he discards the ‘norms’ surrounding the things he touches. He now cheapens this award - no direct reflection on Woods, but business partner and mid-career. Just more headlines. donald has cheapened foreign policy, the presidency and even pardons (i.e. Joe Arpaio) Won’t Arpaio forever after be remembered as the guy who was pardoned out of contempt of court? Probably a suitable foot note in history.
ETTD
This just gives me nausea.