Ava Romero
On September 11, 2012, during the attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, then-President Barack Obama was criticized for allegedly issuing vague orders before retreating to his residence. The following day, he attended a fundraiser in Las Vegas, and he has been accused of neglecting foreign policy issues in favor of golf and fundraising. Obama's aides defended his golfing, stating that sports and leisure activities are essential for stress relief in high-pressure jobs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of golfing | 26 May 2013, 9 August 2014, 28 March 2015 |
| Location | Fort Belvoir, Martha's Vineyard, Floridian National Golf Club |
| Number of rounds | 13th round of the year, 124th of his presidency, 8 rounds in two weeks, 176 rounds in total |
| Other activities | Fundraisers, foreign policy |
| Criticism | Lack of governing, golfing while the U.S. Embassy in Libya was evacuated |
| Defence | Golf is a way for Obama to clear his mind and ease stress |
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What You'll Learn
- Obama's golfing habits during international crises were criticised by the media
- Obama played golf while the US Embassy in Libya was evacuated
- Obama's aides defended his golfing, stating it was to ease the stress of his job
- Obama played 176 rounds of golf in six years, according to The Washington Post
- Obama's predecessor, Donald Trump, criticised his golfing habits as president
Obama's golfing habits during international crises were criticised by the media
Barack Obama's golfing habits during international crises were criticised by the media and his political opponents. Obama played golf on 26 May 2013, the same day he travelled to Oklahoma to view the devastation caused by a tornado. This was the 124th time he had played golf during his presidency.
Obama's golfing during his two-week vacation on Martha's Vineyard in August 2014 drew criticism from the media. This was due to the juxtaposition of delivering a sombre statement on the beheading of American journalist James Foley by Islamic State militants and then proceeding to play 18 holes. At the time, Obama was also dealing with racial unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, the Ukraine crisis, and the Gaza crisis.
Obama's golfing during international crises was also criticised by his successor, Donald Trump. In October 2014, Trump tweeted:
> "Can you believe that, with all of the problems and difficulties facing the U.S., President Obama spent the day playing golf. Worse than Carter."
However, it has been noted that Trump himself frequently played golf during his presidency and was a regular visitor to his own golf clubs in Florida and Virginia.
Obama's supporters have defended his golfing habits, arguing that sports and leisure activities are essential for clearing the mind and easing stress. White House spokesman Eric Schultz stated that the issues facing the country had "absolutely captured the president's attention" during his vacation.
Obama's golfing has also been criticised in the context of his response to the Benghazi attack in September 2012. It has been alleged that Obama issued vague orders and then retreated to his residence, although his aides insisted that he was briefed. The day after the attack, Obama attended a fundraiser in Las Vegas.
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Obama played golf while the US Embassy in Libya was evacuated
On Saturday, the 26th of May 2013, President Obama played golf while the US Embassy in Libya was evacuated. This was the 13th time the president had played that year and the 124th time during his presidency. The evacuation was ordered by the State Department due to the destruction of much of Tripoli's main airport in militia fighting. Thick black smoke from the fighting hung over the Tripoli skyline.
Obama had previously helped NATO allies overthrow Muammar Kadafi as part of his "lead from behind" doctrine but had failed to help the resulting democratic government secure its authority. This, along with the US's failure to support the training of a new Libyan army, led to chaos in the region. On the 11th of September 2012, an attack in Benghazi, Libya, resulted in the deaths of US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.
President Obama's golfing during the evacuation of the US Embassy in Libya was criticised by some. An opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times compared Obama to Nero, "fiddling while Rome burned". However, Obama's supporters defended his actions, arguing that sports and leisure activities are essential for clearing the mind and easing stress.
Obama's predecessor, Donald Trump, frequently criticised him for playing golf while on the job. However, Trump himself became a regular visitor to his own golf clubs in Florida and Virginia after taking office.
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Obama's aides defended his golfing, stating it was to ease the stress of his job
On September 11, 2012, during the attack in Benghazi, Libya, President Barack Obama gave a few vague orders and then retreated to his residence. The following day, he attended a fundraiser in Las Vegas. Obama has been criticized for his excessive attention to activities unrelated to governing, including playing golf.
Obama's supporters, however, have defended his golfing excursions, stating that they serve as a necessary break from the stresses of his job. White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters:
> "I will say that, generally, I think that, you know, sports and leisure activities are a good way for release and clearing of the mind for a lot of us. [...] It's important for us to understand, and I think that's been evident, is that the issues the country is facing, both on the international stage and back here at home, have absolutely captured the president's attention while we've been here."
Obama has been known to golf at exclusive clubs, such as the Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City, Florida, and the Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. He has also played with notable golfers such as Tiger Woods. While some may argue that Obama's golfing habits are excessive, his aides have justified them as a means to ease the stress of his demanding role as President of the United States.
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Obama played 176 rounds of golf in six years, according to The Washington Post
Barack Obama has been criticized for his frequent golfing trips during his presidency. Notably, in an article published by the Los Angeles Times in 2014, Obama was criticized for playing golf while the State Department ordered the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Libya. This incident occurred against the backdrop of the 2012 Benghazi attack, where four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, were killed. The article accused Obama of neglecting the region by failing to support international peacekeepers or train a new Libyan army, resulting in chaos and militia fighting.
Obama's golfing habits during his presidency have been a topic of discussion and scrutiny. According to The Washington Post, Obama played 176 rounds of golf in six years. This frequency of golfing trips has drawn criticism, with some arguing that it reflects a disregard for governing and an excessive focus on leisure activities. Obama's defenders, however, have justified these outings as a way for the president to clear his mind and ease the stress of his demanding job.
While the exact dates of Obama's golfing trips during the Benghazi incident are unclear, it is known that he made multiple golfing outings throughout his presidency. These outings were often reported by the media and scrutinized by the public and political opponents. One notable instance mentioned in the sources was Obama's trip to the golf course after delivering a statement on the death of American journalist James Foley, executed by Islamic State militants. This juxtaposition drew criticism, with the media highlighting the president's leisure activities during a time of international crises.
Obama's golfing trips have also been a topic of discussion in relation to the use of taxpayer money. One source mentions a weekend getaway in Florida, where he golfed at an upscale resort with buddies, including Tiger Woods. The trip's airfare cost taxpayers $843,508. Such instances fueled criticisms about the perceived excessiveness of Obama's golfing outings.
It is worth noting that the discussion around Obama's golfing habits extends beyond the Benghazi incident. His successor, President Donald Trump, frequently criticized Obama for his golfing trips while on the job. However, it has been noted that Trump himself became a regular golfer during his presidency, outpacing Obama in the number of golf outings during his first year in office.
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Obama's predecessor, Donald Trump, criticised his golfing habits as president
While Barack Obama was president, he was criticised for his golfing habits. Obama played 333 rounds of golf during his eight years as president, which equates to once every 8.77 days. In May 2014, Obama played golf while the State Department ordered the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Libya.
Obama's predecessor, Donald Trump, criticised his golfing habits while on the campaign trail. Trump stated that "Obama ought to get off the golf course" and that "he's played more golf than most people on the PGA tour". Despite his criticism, Trump has spent more time at golf clubs than Obama did at the same point in his presidency. Trump has been at a golf club once every 4.92 days so far, with 248 days spent at a golf course in total according to Mark Knoller, a CBS News White House correspondent. Trump's trips to golf clubs have also been more expensive, costing taxpayers about a million dollars per trip.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Obama played golf during the Benghazi attack on September 11, 2012. The day after the attack, he attended a fundraiser in Las Vegas.
Obama played golf 176 rounds during his presidency.
Obama played golf the day after the Benghazi attack.
