The proposed merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf could have a Donald Trump problem.
While details of the final agreement won’t be known until at least the end of the year, federal regulations still have the power to block the blockbuster deal.
And the Justice Department is already investigating Trump’s ties to the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf. According to a New York Post source, those ties could “further motivate Biden Administration officials to try to scuttle the merger.”
The source told The Post, “It is certainly going to make Biden’s FTC and DOJ scrutinize the deal… especially because of the Trump family’s involvement. The fact these LIV tournaments have been at Trump’s clubs makes him a relevant figure since he’s paid for this.”
It’s unclear how much money Trump has made from LIV Golf.
The source added, “This deal is a violation of the essence of competition. On top of that, this is the most aggressive Antitrust Division in the History of the Department of Justice.”
The source joked the Justice Department “wouldn’t let Baskins merge with Robbins today.”
Whether the Justice Department or FTC blocks the proposed megadeal remains to be seen. Trump, for his part, has called it “a big, beautiful deal for the game of golf” on Truth Social.
