At the moment, I am enjoying with much delight re-reading Golf Dreams of 1999—a collection of short stories, articles and reflections, even poems, about the sport by late John Updike, who was an avid, albeit far from perfect, golfer.

I never played golf. I probably bought the book when—a few months later—I had to serve as a caddie for two colleagues who were just as enthusiastic as Updike but played even worse. The rough looked slightly greenish in winter, while the “green” was made of asphalt. The public golf course was located in Al-Ahmadi, Kuwait.

In his collection of golf writings, Updike famously explores the mental gymnastics of the sport, noting how golfers fixate on a specific mental cue or instruction during their swing.

As President Donald Trump is displayed on this picture, at his own Bedminster Golf Club in New Jersey, I was wondering, what are his swing thoughts right now. According to Updike, golf is not a granted success story, not even for pros.

It is interesting to note that the pear-shaped figure—with the white cap obscuring his entire head and, in particular, his face—is instantly recognizable as Trump. He appears to be swinging the club to smash the small patch of turf in front of him. One might assume that relentless anger drives him.

We see him accompanied by his pro or caddie. But what is more concerning is barbed wire and, well, an AW/TWQ-1 Avenger short-range air defence system. A desperate president seems to sink into paranoia.

Some immensely painful facts: The Iran war is lost. American bases in the Gulf–destroyed. America’s aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln–once its symbol for prowess, now a laughing stock. The Gulf monarchies, strong allies–his last?– turn away. Iranian officials and state media mock him over alleged death threats, while the Mossad spreads rumors and the CIA downplays them. He had to switch planes—hidden inside a catering container—leaving his entourage behind as an expendable decoy. Among them Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent (and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt who instantly left her job as she apparently doesn’t want to be a decoy). He even talks about it.

His Vice President J.D. Vance has meanwhile formulated the new goal for the conflict–keeping prices for gas and oil cheap for Americans. After former aims, regime change in Iran (“Help is underway!”), obliterating Iran’s nuclear program, its ballistic missiles, its civilization; and finally, opening the Strait of Hormuz.

The world is no longer laughing. Rather waiting for Trump’s replacement.

17 August 2026 @ 9:39 UTC+2.

Last modified August 17, 2026.