Donald Trump jokingly claims PGA-LIV deal is “more complicated” than Russia-Ukraine peace talks

US President Donald Trump has been highly involved in the PGA Tour-PIF merger deal and has held meetings regarding this at the White House.

Donald Trump jokingly claims PGA-LIV deal is “more complicated” than Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Donald Trump (Image via Imago)

In the past few weeks, Donald Trump has been highly involved in the ongoing merger deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s backer Public Investment Fund (PIF). On Tuesday, the US President jokingly claimed that this deal is “more complicated” than the Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine marked its third anniversary on Monday, February 24. Trump has also been involved in peace talks regarding this and is trying to achieve a ceasefire between the two European nations.

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While speaking with the media on Tuesday at the White House, one reporter asked Trump about his efforts in the golf merger deal and asked which was going to be more complicated – this or the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. With a smile on his face, the 47th US President picked the former leading to laughter among the crowd present besides him.

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I think the PGA deal is much more complicated

Donald Trump said

Last week, Trump met PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan at the White House. The tour would later release a statement regarding this and once again stated their intention to re-unify the sport as soon as possible.

However, a few days later reports emerged that the meeting did not go well. The two sides had some differences again.

In a dinner with the governors, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis asked Trump about the deal. The 78-year-old expressed optimism regarding these negotiations talks and claimed that there is a good chance of them wrapping this deal soon.

PGA Tour star believes Donald Trump wants to take credit for reuniting golf with merger deal

Ever since he became the President again and was sworn into office, Donald Trump has been highly active in the merger deal with the PGA Tour and PIF. A PGA Tour star has now claimed that he believes that Trump wants to take credit for reuniting the game of golf.

Donald Trump
Donald Trump (Image via Imago)

The world of golf was left divided by the emergence of LIV Golf. Several PGA Tour players would leave the tour and join the newly formed league. This created a massive gap in the sport of professional golf.

One of the biggest aims of this merger deal is to reunify the game and have all players under one tour. Peter Malnati, one of the Player-Director on the PGA Tour policy board, has been involved in several meetings in the past few days regarding this merger deal. He believes that having Trump on their side is a “powerful tool” for them in these merger negotiations.

As stupid as this is … and it’s really stupid … the President of the United States wants to be involved and I think he wants to take credit for reuniting men’s professional golf. That’s a powerful tool to have in your back pocket.

Peter Malnati said as per Sports Illustrated

Trump had previously expressed that he could wrap up the deal between the two parties within 15 minutes. It has now been over 20 months since the deal was originally announced. If the deal goes through with Trump’s intervention, there are chances that he will be hailed for his work in getting this deal over the line.