Donald Trump tees off on the Confederate flag
Newly-minted presidential candidate Donald Trump joined his fellow Republican contenders Tuesday in calling for the South Carolina legislature to remove the Confederate flag from the statehouse grounds.
"I think they should put it in the museum and let it go," Trump said of the flag during an appearance at his new golf course in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. "Respect whatever it is you have to respect, because it was a point in time, and put it in a museum. But I would take it down. Yes."
Always the showman, Trump made his pronouncement from a podium perched atop a noisy man-made waterfall at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, one of the latest additions to his far-reaching real estate empire. Trump filed paperwork to become a White House candidate this week, finally making his decades-long flirtation with a presidential run official.
But even as he took questions about issues of the day, his golf outing was another reminder that Trump is as keen on promoting himself and his business interests as much as his candidacy. After taking questions, he took a driver and teed off from the first hole before the cameras.
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Wearing a red baseball cap with his name on it, Trump transitioned back and forth between golf speak and more serious matters like the Confederate flag.
CBS News also asked Trump, a man famous for showing off his dollars, what woman he wants to see on the $10 bill.
"My mother," Trump deadpanned, much to the delight of the members-only golf club crowd that erupted with laughter and applause.
Trump also welcomed President Obama to play golf at his course, before admitting that he was probably not Mr. Obama's favorite person in the world.
"He doesn't have to get on the 747 and spend $25 million dollars traveling to locations where they have to play on golf courses that aren't nearly as good. And if he wanted to play it, he's invited," Trump said of the president. "It is only 25 minutes from the White House, and by helicopter it's about two minutes, and I have a landing pad right outside, so it's great."
Later, the media followed Trump in a golf cart convoy through the 18-hole course, located on an 800-acre stretch of the Potomac. Driving his golf cart from hole to hole, Trump happily engaged with golfers and members of the press.
"I love CBS," Trump said during a beverage break at the fourth hole. "Say hello to Charlie Rose. I love Charlie."