Donald Trump has remained a lightning rod for debate since his re-election in November 2024, with many of his policies continuing to polarize opinion. From slapping sweeping tariffs on nearly every country to doubling down on his hardline stance on migration, his administration’s actions have drawn both staunch praise and heated backlash.
When he’s not wielding a pen over executive orders or rallying supporters at events, Trump is most often found on the green, indulging in one of his favorite pastimes: golf. Despite being 78, he’s often described by golf insiders as a “steady single-digit player” with an unexpectedly long drive and a reputation for playing at lightning speed.
But his love of the sport once made him the unexpected target of a well-known prank.
Back in 2016, as Trump was relaunching his newly purchased Trump Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, he found himself at the center of a stunt pulled off by notorious British comedian Simon Brodkin — also known by his alter ego, Lee Nelson.
As Trump began to deliver his speech, Brodkin calmly approached the stage and began tossing golf balls decorated with swastikas into the air. With an exaggerated apology, he shouted, “Donald, here are the balls you ordered!” before holding them up and adding, “My bad.”
The stunt shocked attendees and was swiftly cut short by Scottish police, who quickly recognized Brodkin. Trump, clearly not amused, reportedly wanted to press charges.
Brodkin later told The Scottish Sun that despite having a criminal record for similar antics, the Scottish officers were remarkably good-humored about the whole thing. “They were brilliant,” he said. “Who wants to get waterboarded by the CIA when you can have an Irn Bru in the back of a police van?”
Rather than dragging him through the legal system, the officers simply put him on a plane back to London and told Trump’s team that he’d been deported.
Brodkin, known for his bold and sometimes outrageous stunts, has a long history of targeting public figures. Among his most infamous pranks: joining Manchester City’s players during their warm-up (he was arrested), storming Kanye West’s Glastonbury set in 2015, and throwing $600 in cash at then-FIFA President Sepp Blatter, claiming it was part of North Korea’s World Cup bid.
He’s been candid about how he chooses his targets. Speaking to Sky News in 2019, Brodkin said, “There’s many targets who would be fun to go for but might end up with a death sentence—like Kim Jong Un.”
“And then I think if you go for someone like the Queen, that would just be a national catastrophe,” he added. “You need to go for people with that sweet spot—where most people pat you on the back and go, ‘That was funny.’”
