TRUMPING TRUMP

When Donald Trump announced his bid for presidency in mid-June, he denounced Mexico for failing to restrain immigration.

Sort of. In typical Trump fashion, he went over the top. He accused Mexico of sending its worst across America’s porous border, exporting “people that have lots of problems … They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

Business partners reacted in horror. Macy’s dropped his line of clothes (many of which are made in Mexico). NBC and Univision backed out of televising the Miss Universe contest in which he is a stakeholder. A mattress company dropped its Trump-branded mattresses.

The golf world, in which he has become a factor as a builder of courses, followed, but oh-so-slowly. Golf has always had problems being inclusive of minorities, but it too has backed away from the bombastic developer.

The PGA of America has elected to move its Grand Slam of Golf event from Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles in the fall. Three other charity golf tournaments also pulled out of Trump-owned courses.

Free speech can be expensive, even for billionaires. It costs them opportunities, it costs them their reputations and, in this case, it could cost Trump an election in which he wasn’t even the likely Republican nominee. Trump is unapologetic and he is entitled to his opinions, most of which are not supported by facts.

He spoke his mind. He’s feeling it in his wallet. How it will affect his campaign is for the public to decide.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .