The New York Post's Page 6 reported Monday on the latest Trump media brouhaha.
Author Harry Hurt III, who produced a stinging biography of Trump in the 1990's, claimed to the paper and in a Facebook post that while golfing at Trump's course last week, he was escorted from the club after words with the President-elect.
The verbal exchange became newsworthy because Hurt was golfing with billionaire David Koch as part of Koch's foursome at West Palm Beach's Trump International Golf Club. Koch is a member of the club.
According to Hurt, the author walked over to Trump to offer congratulatory words, when Trump responded, "You were rough on me, Harry. Really rough."
Hurt told Trump his allegations against him were "all true."
Hurt had published divorce allegations made by Trump's first wife Ivana that while married she had been "raped" by her husband.
Ivana later recanted the comment, said she never meant to imply a legal definition of rape. She strongly supported her ex-husband in his presidential bid.
Surprised by Hurt's comments, Trump asked his security team to remove Hurt, but not Koch or his associates, from the course.
Hurt claimed in his Facebook post "David was appalled" by Trump's actions and implied David was asked to leave as well.
A Koch source tells Newsmax "at no time was DHK asked to leave."
Koch said "something to the effect when Harry Hurt offered to leave on his own, 'We came as a foursome and will leave as a foursome,'" the source said.
Another Koch associate in Palm Beach said the billionaire was not aware of the feud the two had in the past year. He was surprised his longtime friend had accosted Trump on the course and then went public with the episode.
The source added Koch has always personally liked Trump and he "loves" Trump's golf course, which he thinks is one of the best in the country.
The week before, Koch and his wife Julia had met Trump at Mar-a-Lago during a dinner hosted by Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy and Palm Beach heiress Talbott Maxey. Koch congratulated Trump on his election victory and the two had a cordial conversation.
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.