Rory McIlroy and the Modern Athlete’s Trump Dilemma

Rory McIlroy is one of the premier golfers in the world. He is also now on the receiving end of harsh criticism after accepting an invitation to hit the links with US President Donald Trump.

The golfer explained that you must respect the office one holds, even if you are not the biggest fan of the individual occupying that office.

Sports and business have been intertwined for some time. Now, politics have joined in on the fun. New England Patriots players like Devin McCourty and LeGarrette Blount will not be visiting the White House after their Super Bowl LI victory.

McIlroy made it clear that he was not endorsing Trump (and that he was not making an attempt to make some kind of political statement). Yet we are living in a world where a pro athlete is receiving criticism for playing a round of golf with the US President.

It is worth noting that the athlete in this scenario is from Northern Ireland, not the United States. However, athletes other than Rory McIlroy and Patriots players will be getting invitations to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors — who is sponsored by Under Armour — publicly criticized company CEO Kevin Plank for calling Trump “a real asset for the country.” In fact, Curry could be receiving that invitation if the Warriors manage to secure their second NBA title in three seasons. Ironically enough, Curry’s golf round with Barack Obama in the past was widely publicized.

Plenty of athletes like McIlroy will undoubtedly be thrust into these tricky situations during Trump’s presidency. Sports stars are more than just athletes — they are role models, conversation starters and agents of change whose actions and decisions will always be placed under a microscope.