Donald Trump and Joe Biden clash over golf handicaps during US presidential debate

Donald Trump accused President Joe Biden of lying about his golf handicap during a wild first presidential debate of the 2024 United States election. 

Trump, 78, and Biden, 81, traded barbs on a wide range of topics, but it was their petty argument surrounding golf handicaps that drew plenty of raised eyebrows. 

Biden took aim at Trump for lying about his height, and then soon moved on to question his levels of fitness. 

In response, Trump bragged he was ‘in very good shape’ and that he recently won two club championships at one of his golf courses.

“To do that, you have to be quite smart and you have to be able to hit the ball a long way,” said Trump, the 45th President who served in office from 2017 to 2021. 

Then in came their golf handicap squabble. 

For the official record, Trump’s golf handicap was listed as a 2.5 in 2021.

Biden’s handicap was listed at 6.7, although the last update was in July 2018. 

Trump said Biden “can’t hit a ball 50 yards” to which Biden responded “I’d be happy to have a driving contest with him.”

Biden then raised the stakes further by saying he would be keen for a round of golf to settle who is the better golfer.

“I got my handicap when I was Vice President down to a six,” said Biden.

“By the way I told you before, I’m happy to play golf with you if you can carry your own bag. Think you can do it?”