Donald Trump gives stunning golfer Charley Hull the seal of approval after she went viral for smoking
A staunch opponent of drinking, drugs and tobacco, Donald Trump is ready to make an exception for a leggy, blonde 28-year-old golf phenom who happens to think he's a genius.
'I love Trump,' cigarette enthusiast and LPGA star Charley Hull said in November. 'I think he's brilliant.'
The quote was included in a Fox News post that the president-elect happily shared on Truth Social. Also included is the image of the glamorous English star wearing a short golf skirt, long-sleeve dark polo shirt and a white sponsor-emblazoned hat. At first glance, Hull appears to be holding a cigarette in her right hand, but upon closer inspection, the small shape is revealed to be a golf tee.
And this isn't the first time Hull has shown her support for Trump. Hull, who has gained notoriety for smoking during events, was competing at The Annika at Pelican Golf Club in November when she was snapped performing the arm-jerking dance moves that have become associated with Trump.
Hull, the world's 10th-ranked player, has long-been tipped as a future star of the golfing world, playing in several amateur tournaments during her early teens and being a part of the European team that won the Solheim Cup in 2023.
She competed in the Curtis Cup - the amateur version of the Solheim Cup - when she was just 16, while she turned professional before her 17th birthday.
The social media post shows the glamorous English star wearing a short golf skirt, long-sleeve dark polo shirt and a white sponsor-emblazoned hat. Trump re-posted it on Truth Social
Charley Hull established herself as a US Open cult icon with a John Daly-esque viral moment
This will be Hull's second time representing Team GB at the Olympics after pulling out of Tokyo's 2021 delayed Games
And while she is rated highly for her on-course skills with the club when it comes to golf, it was her dance moves and tribute to the president-elect that saw her grab the headlines in November.
Speaking after the event, she revealed her admiration for Trump - and even explained her wish that he could be the UK Prime Minister.
'I like how he just says things, he doesn't care what people think and he's straight to the point.
'I wish he was head of the UK. I just like him as a person. He's a little better than our Prime Minister.'
Trump won a second term as president of the United States earlier this month when he defeated Kamala Harris in the election for the next term.
He has won a number of fans since the start of his campaign, with other sports stars, such as American UFC star Jon Jones and USMNT footballer Christian Pulisic also performing the dance in recent weeks.
Fellow golf star Bryson DeChambeau recently had Trump on his YouTube channel and joined him on stage at his victory rally.
Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, has suggested that his return to the White House could build a bridge between PGA Tour and LIV group due to the 'smartest man in the world', Elon Musk, working closely with him.
Trump, who is preparing for a second term as president, performed dance while campaigning
Hull was snapped performing the move as she celebrated while playing in Florida
Hull referred to Trump as 'brilliant' last month after performing his dance on the course
The golfer said smoking during games helps to control her ADHD and 'relax a little'
Trump has been a long-time supporter of the LPGA and has hosted tour events on his courses, including the 2017 US Women's Open at his course in Bedminster, New Jersey. In early 2021, however, the LPGA canceled a scheduled 2022 event on a Trump course following the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.
'He was such a huge fan of the L.P.G.A. and of golf in general,' American golfer Natalie Gulbis told The New York Times in 2017.
Gulbis has known Trump since she qualified for her first ADT Championship in 2005 and told the Times he's counselled her on sponsorship deals and fighting for equal pay with the PGA Tour.
'These were constant conversations that I saw him have not just with me, but with lots of people in our organization,' Gulbis said.
Others have said they would jump at the chance to play with Trump.
'He's the leader of one of the biggest countries in the whole entire world,' Lydisa Ko said, 'and it would be an honor if I got that call.'
LPGA pro Karen Stupples, however, declined when asked in 2017.
'Would I play golf with him? Probably not. But then that's me,' she told the Times. 'That's because I've been around the block a few times and seen a few other things. But it's only because of my life experience that I feel like I can make a good judgment on what I want to do personally.'
