Sir Nick Faldo takes swipe at UK while bragging about Donald Trump friendship

Daily Mirror

7 hours ago

Multimillionaire golfer Nick Faldo, who was knighted for services to sport, told how he has no plans to return to Britain after taking a recent stroll down Eton High Street
Sir Nick Faldo has criticised the UK using one of the nation's wealthiest high streets to attack his homeland while simultaneously praising life in his pal Donald Trump's America.
The multimillionaire golfer, who was knighted for services to sport, told how he has no plans to return to Britain after taking a recent stroll down Eton High Street. 'We walked down Eton High Street because we used to live near there and it's looking a bit rough,' he said.
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'You know, things have gone down. The shops are closing, there's boarded up windows and I'm disappointed to see that the country is struggling, to be honest. And, I mean, that's a shame.' The six-time major winner then boasted about his friendship with Trump before praising his adopted America, where he lives with his fourth wife, Lindsay De Marco.
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The former topless dancer is an ardent fan of the controversial president, often posting her support of him on the couple's Instagram page. When asked about Trump's America, Faldo, 67, told the Telegraph: 'You've got to say the attitude [in the US] is good. It's back to the good old psychology of life. You've got to be seeing good things and saying good things. Self-hypnosis is really powerful, you know?'
His gushing praise of Trump's leadership came as America is currently teetering on the edge of recession, where grocery prices are spiralling due to the US leader's unhinged tariffs, and democracy is under siege from the president's attacks. Despite accepting a knighthood and continuing to use the 'Sir' title, Faldo said he has no intention of returning to the UK, choosing instead to spend his time in Montana, where he lives on a farm with his wife.
Last year, the couple attended a Trump campaign rally during which the US leader spoke about the golfer while on stage. Addressing supporters in August, he said: "This guy is a major golfer. He is a major friend of mine. One of the best ever. They knighted him in England or the UK. And he just knew how to win. He could take people, he'd play the best players in the world, and they always folded in front of him. In fact, I think I need to bring him into government 'cause we like to get other people to fold. And his nickname is Foldo (sic) because he makes everyone, but his name is Faldo. Nick Faldo and his beautiful wife, Lyndsay. Where is Nick?"
Trump then turned to point to the retired golfer who was sitting several rows back from the podium. "That guy can play golf," Trump added. "He's won six majors and many, many tournaments, and he's one of the greatest golfers ever. It's an honour, as a golfer. You are a piece of work. He's a tough cookie, too. You talk about a tough cookie. That's a tough cookie."
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Now, Faldo has spoken about his friendship with Trump, boasting about their relationship. 'He always calls me Nicky,' the golfer said of the businessman, recalling the frequency of their conversations. 'So when I started TV, out of the blue, a Monday after a tournament, I remember I was down hitting golf balls, and it's Donald, back when he was just a businessman,' he added.
''Nicky,'' Faldo said, impersonating Trump. Nicky, how did he blow that tournament? You wouldn't have done that, Nicky. You'd have done this, you'd have done that, Nicky.' Over ten years, that happened two or three times a year out of the blue.'
Faldo revelled in the idea of calling Trump, treating the president as a party trick. 'For fun, I could be anywhere in the world and if somebody was talking about this and that, I'd say: 'I'll call him'. And I always get through. Honestly. One hundred per cent of the time,' he said.
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He went on to reveal an anecdote about ignoring a phone call from the president during the 2019 Masters, while on live television. 'It's the 2019 Masters. Tiger's just won... one of the ladies from CBS leans over to me and goes, 'I have a call from the president of the United States for you, sir...''
'I say, 'Oh, tell him to call me on Monday.' She goes, 'no, it's the president of the United States'. It's fine, tell him that I'm busy, I'm on with (sports presenter Jim) Nantz!.' So anyway, about 4pm... my phone rings and I've got the president of the United States on the line. I've got Donald saying, 'Nicky, Nicky, how did he win this? How did he win this? How did he do that?' I go back: 'Do you realise that I'm live on flipping TV. Do you mind?' So my claim to fame is that he called two golfers on that day, and Tiger was second.'
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Faldo's praise for Trump comes as the president's bizarre tariffs hammer US households and his administration flouts laws and the constitution to impose the US leader's will. His wife has made no secret of her love for the former businessman, often posting on social media her support.
Last year, following a failed assassination attempt on Trump, she posted a picture of him as he raised his hand in defiance. She wrote alongside the picture: "This is the only man I want leading our country." Before Joe Biden dropped out of the race, she often criticised the then-US leader. She has long held conservative views.
Her fifth of seven husbands was multi-millionaire US businessman Scott Sangalli. As Mrs Sangalli, the couple, who were close to failed Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, used his wealth to support the Republican party while indulging Lindsay in her love of politics. Thirteen years ago, after running for office herself, she won the title of Mrs Conservative US.
On winning the title, Lindsay, who is a convicted drug felon, said: "One side or size doesn't fit all, and the liberal agenda isn't for everyone. "The pageant sends out the message to women that being a conservative woman or young lady is a choice like any other. If it's their choice, then they should embrace it, and the Conservative US Pageant is the perfect place to showcase conservative women of all ages and to celebrate conservatism in America."