The Trump Golf Prank That Went Viral

In 2016, during the grand reopening of Trump Turnberry in Scotland, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump was unexpectedly pranked by British comedian Simon Brodkin, aka “Lee Nelson.” Disguised as a Trump supporter, Brodkin handed Trump a set of golf balls marked with swastikas—turning a routine event into viral chaos.

Trump, visibly rattled, reportedly demanded Brodkin’s deportation. Instead, Scottish police calmly escorted the comedian to the airport and jokingly informed Trump’s team that he had been “deported.” No charges were filed.

Brodkin, known for pranking public figures like Theresa May and Sepp Blatter, said he targets powerful people to expose their contradictions through humor—though he draws the line at figures like Kim Jong Un or Queen Elizabeth.

The prank highlighted Trump’s low tolerance for ridicule and sparked debate about satire, free speech, and the power of comedy to challenge authority. Years later, it remains one of Brodkin’s most infamous stunts and a lasting moment of Trump’s volatile relationship with public mockery.