President Donald Trump smiles as he meets with members of the U.S. Coast Guard, who he invited to play golf, at Trump International Golf Club, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Associated Press
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - President Donald Trump welcomed members of the U.S. Coast Guard to one of his Florida golf courses Friday.
The president invited Coast Guard members to Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach to play and have lunch. He warmly greeted the roughly 60 members on a pristine green next to a gurgling waterfall and posed for a photo with the group.
Trump, who was wearing a red USA hat and white polo shirt, praised the Coast Guard, calling it "fantastic" and noting their response efforts in Texas and Florida. He stressed that he wanted to say "thank you."
Trump said the group would have a "little Coast Guard challenge." The White House said the group was taking part in a "4-man scramble," a type of tournament.
Some of the service members came from nearby Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet, which Trump visited over Thanksgiving to hand out lunches.
White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Trump "wanted to thank these service members personally for their service to this nation."
President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with members of the U.S. Coast Guard, who he invited to play golf, at Trump International Golf Club, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Associated Press
President Donald Trump speaks as he meet with members of the U.S. Coast Guard, who he invited to play golf, at Trump International Golf Club, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Associated Press
President Donald Trump walks with Gene Gibson, commanding officer at Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet, as he arrives to meet with members of the U.S. Coast Guard, who he invited to play golf, at Trump International Golf Club, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Associated Press
President Donald Trump walks with Gene Gibson, commanding officer at Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet, as he meet with members of the U.S. Coast Guard, who he invited to play golf, at Trump International Golf Club, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Associated Press