Kathrine Frich
The hot mic incident followed an unusual speech.
Public appearances are exhausting. Leaders usually smile through the fatigue while shaking hands for the cameras.
But sometimes the mask slips, and a live microphone catches exactly what they are thinking.
Caught on tape
President Donald Trump attended the Presidents Cup in Medinah, Illinois, on Sunday. The 80-year-old was taking part in the closing ceremony.
As he shook hands with the golfers, a nearby microphone picked up a candid complaint according to The Irish Star. He threw his hands up in the air.
He was recorded clearly saying, “I’d like to go home.”
A song by Pink drowned out whatever the president said next. The brief video clip quickly caught fire online.
A quick exit
Critics were quick to mock the tired-sounding leader. One social media user noted that if a rival politician made the same remark, cable networks would play it constantly.
The White House press pool reported that journalists gathered for the presentation at 5:15 p.m. local time. The president left just forty minutes later.
Arriving back at the White House, Trump told reporters it had been a “tremendous day.” He also congratulated golfer Brandt Snedeker on his tournament win.
He declined to answer any questions. Soon after, his Truth Social account published seven different videos from the trip.
Short and defensive
The hot mic incident followed an unusual speech. Standing near the first tee with PGA commissioner Brian Rolapp, Trump spoke for only one minute instead of a scheduled fifteen.
The crowd offered a mixture of cheers and boos. Trump immediately claimed journalists would lie about the reaction.
He stated, “The fake news media will say I got a very bad reception, but we got a good reception.” He added, “They love what we’re doing; the country is doing great.”
Trump then explained why he cut his remarks short. He quoted Rolapp asking for a brief speech, and then shared his blunt reply.
Voices of protest
“No, I don’t have the courage to make a speech. These people want to see golf; they don’t want to hear speeches,” Trump said. He added, “It’s going to be a very interesting day of golf.”
Outside the golf course, the atmosphere was much more tense. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the local streets. Police had to separate them from groups of loyal supporters.
One protester, Allison Galvan, spoke to ABC7 Chicago about the visit. She kept her message simple, stating, “He’s not welcome.”
