The Trump Golf Ball Prank That Went Viral

Back in 2016, during the grand reopening of Trump Turnberry in Scotland, Donald Trump—then a presidential candidate—became the target of an unexpected prank that quickly went viral.

British comedian Simon Brodkin, better known by his stage name “Lee Nelson,” crashed the event disguised as a Trump supporter. In a moment that stunned attendees and delighted the internet, he approached Trump and handed him a set of golf balls stamped with swastikas.

The prank instantly disrupted what was meant to be a routine photo op. Trump, clearly thrown off, reportedly demanded Brodkin be deported on the spot. Scottish police, however, handled the situation with dry humor—they calmly escorted Brodkin to the airport and jokingly told Trump’s team that he had been “deported.” In reality, no charges were filed.

The bold stunt made international headlines and served as one of the more memorable—and bizarre—moments of the 2016 campaign trail.

Brodkin, who has made a name for himself by pranking high-profile figures like former UK Prime Minister Theresa May and FIFA’s Sepp Blatter, says his comedy aims to expose the contradictions of the powerful. While he’s bold in his targets, he admits there are limits—he steers clear of figures like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un or the late Queen Elizabeth.

The Turnberry stunt underscored Trump’s well-known sensitivity to public ridicule and sparked broader conversations about satire, free speech, and comedy’s role in holding power to account. Years later, it remains one of Brodkin’s most talked-about pranks—and a defining moment in Trump’s often tense relationship with public mockery.