President Donald Trump’s post from 2016 criticizing then-White House leader Barack Obama for golfing during major air travel disruption caused by a Transport Security Administration (TSA) staff shortage has resurfaced.
On May 21, 2016, Trump wrote on X: “While our wonderful president was out playing golf all day, the TSA is falling apart, just like our government! Airports a total disaster!”
Why It Matters
Back in 2016, Obama drew criticism from Trump for golfing while U.S. airports experienced extremely long security lines and widespread delays. These were caused by staff shortages, budget constraints, record travel numbers, and increased screening measures. Unionized TSA workers were also involved in protests at several major airports over this period, calling for more hiring, better pay, and expanded bargaining rights.
Fast-forward to the present day, and Trump appears guilty of the same. The president was golfing at his private Trump International Golf Club in Florida this past Sunday while there has been mounting congestion at airport checkpoints across the U.S. TSA officers are dealing with staff shortages caused by having gone weeks of working without pay amid a prolonged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding impasse.
What To Know
Trump’s 2016 X post criticizing Obama was unearthed by Marty Dart, who posted a screenshot of the message to his Threads account @martinldart, writing alongside it: “Wow, 2016 Trump really hating on 2026 Trump!”
The post has been shared over 1,000 times, earning more than 9,600 likes in the process. Commenting on the post, @cheryl_t_2022 said: “There is always a tweet.”
User @neenee56, meanwhile, commented: “Does someone need to remind him this is his govt, his TSA workers, and disgusting that he plays golf during his war with IRAN!”
Elsewhere, @challengergrey29 wrote: “Hypocrisy! The guy who’s wasting $10 million of our tax dollars in security while he cheats at golf EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND calls President Obama for wasting taxes on golf! Projection! TSA is a PANDEMIC under Trump!”
This isn’t the first time one of Trump’s previous criticisms of Obama has come back to bite him. Earlier this month, a vlog Trump filmed in 2011 resurfaced in which he claimed the Democrat would start a war with Iran because “he’s weak and he’s ineffective” resurfaced online. “He has absolutely no ability to negotiate,” Trump said on the video.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.
What People Are Saying
Trump issued a statement to Truth Social on Sunday announcing plans to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to U.S. airports to assist TSA officers: “On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hard line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts, and all.”
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