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England skipper Harry Kane has confirmed he shared a round of golf with U.S. President Donald Trump during an encounter in Florida some time back, describing the 18-hole outing as a "unique experience."
President Trump had previously let the detail slip while addressing reporters last week amid the contentious overturning of U.S. men's national team forward Folarin Balogun's red card. The 80-year-old briefly paused from discussing the extent of his relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to offer some kind words about Kane.
"I think Kane is a great player," President Trump said. "I played golf with him and I like him a lot. He's a good golfer too. He's really great."
Naturally, Kane was asked about the golf outing ahead of England's fixture against Norway on Saturday, and the Bayern Munich forward shed some light on his time spent with President Trump.
"I played all right to be honest, but 18 months ago he invited me to play when I was down in Palm Beach," Kane said. "So when the President invites you somewhere... It was a pretty surreal experience just to meet him and obviously play golf with him.
"His golf is pretty good, to be honest with you. I hope I can play golf as good as him when I'm his age, that's for sure. A unique experience, but I was just grateful that he invited me to play."
President Trump Could Be Seeing Kane Again Soon
It comes as little surprise that President Trump will be in attendance at the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, set to witness the sport's grandest occasion live in East Rutherford, New Jersey. However, his role will extend well beyond that of a mere spectator.
Infantino confirmed that President Trump will step onto the pitch following the final whistle to present the coveted golden trophy to the winning captain, alongside the FIFA president. This marks a notable departure from the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, where Infantino handled the trophy presentation alone.
President Trump's involvement follows his appearance last summer when he handed the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, an act that stirred controversy and produced widely-shared reactions from the Chelsea players after the American remained on stage throughout the subsequent celebrations.
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Kane would undoubtedly relish the chance to find himself in a comparable position next weekend, lifting the World Cup from President Trump on behalf of England. The Three Lions entered the tournament among the frontrunners and are eager to deliver the nation its first major men's title since 1966.
President Trump would have preferred to see the USMNT on the receiving end of that honor, but the Stars and Stripes were eliminated on home turf following a humbling 4–1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16.