Trump Defends His 275 Golf Outings As President: ‘My Exercise Is Playing’

President Donald Trump defended his frequent golf outings on Monday, saying it was a way to “exercise.”

“I know many in business and politics that work out endlessly, in some cases to a point of exhaustion. It is their number one passion in life, but nobody complains,” Trump tweeted. “My ‘exercise’ is playing, almost never during the week, a quick round of golf. Obama played more and much longer rounds, no problem.”

“When I play, Fake News CNN, and others, park themselves anywhere they can to get a picture, then scream ‘President Trump is playing golf,’” he added. “Actually, I play VERY fast, get a lot of work done on the golf course, and also get a ‘tiny’ bit of exercise. Not bad!”

Trump’s tweet comes as a defense after Trump played golf in his National Golf Club in Northern Virginia for the 275th time during his time in the office, with 273 times he traveled to play golf.

CNN also fact-checked Trump’s claim about playing less than former President Barack Obama, with Trump playing two times more frequently than Obama. During his 2015 presidential campaign, Trump frequently criticized Obama for playing golf.

“Because I’m going to be working for you, I’m not going to have time to go play golf,” Trump said at the time.

After postponing his MAGA rally in New Hampshire due to forecasted tropical storms and low turnout expectations, Trump also played golf in Virginia.

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich also reacted to Trump’s golf outings in Twitter, noting that the president has played golf “more times than he has met with Dr. Fauci,” who earlier said he has not met with Trump for more than a month.