Senator John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) says Americans don’t mind that President Trump went golfing after his tariffs sparked a global financial meltdown.
While stock markets crashed due to Trump’s decision to impose tariffs of at least 10 percent on U.S. trading partners, the president was enjoying a long weekend at his Doral Golf Club in Florida. He attended a Saudi-backed LIV golf event and posted a video of himself playing golf on social media. Later, Trump bragged to reporters that he had “won” the Senior Club Championship at his golf club in Jupiter, Florida.
Despite warnings from JP Morgan and other experts about the risk of a recession, Senator Kennedy shrugged off criticism. In a CNN interview on The Arena, host Kasie Hunt asked if it was a bad look for Trump to be golfing while markets were in turmoil.
“Nah, I don’t think the American people care that much,” Kennedy said. “They understand that presidents relax on the weekends. It doesn’t mean that he wasn’t talking on the phone or wasn’t in meetings. I don’t think there’s ever a time when a president isn’t on call. I don’t think people hold that against him.”
Kennedy did admit that Trump’s tariffs have “been painful” but suggested they might ultimately pay off. “It may turn out well,” he said, “it may not. If it doesn’t turn out well, I think the president will recalibrate.”
When Hunt asked if Trump owns the economy, Kennedy didn’t hesitate: “Oh, I think it is,” he said. “Once he decided to add the tariffs, clearly, he will be held responsible—as he should—whether it turns out good or it turns out badly.”
Watch the clip below from CNN:
HUNT: President Trump played golf over the weekend. He posted a video of himself golfing. Do you think that was a bad look considering where the markets were?
SEN. JOHN KENNEDY: Nah, I don't think the American people care that much. They understand that presidents relax on the… pic.twitter.com/kBH0mNPABP
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 7, 2025
