Triathlon called off at Donald Trump golf course over event name

Donald Trump eats French fries in the presidential skybox during the third round of the US Women's Open at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.

A golf event set to take place at US President Donald Trump’s property in North Carolina has been cancelled due to its name, “Tri at the Trump."

Organizer Chuck McAllister announced the cancellation on Saturday, citing the event’s title.

Days earlier, he had changed the name into “Tri for Good” over the many complaints he said he had received.

The reason for the decision was to stop the tourney from becoming further politicized.

“I’m sad. I’m flat out sad by it that I had to make this decision,” he said. “But it was the right decision to make for the interests of everyone involved.”

McAllister has expressed hope that this year’s cancellation could help avoid any more political tensions surrounding the triathlon event next year.

Proceeds from the event are purportedly given to children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

The US president frequently visits his golf courses, particularly the ones in the US states of Florida, New Jersey, and Virginia, where at least 70 lobbyists and federal contractors are paying members.

Joining such clubs reportedly amounts to annual dues of up to 10,000 US dollars.

The Trump Foundation owns some 10 golf courses across the United States, which gave the now Republican president 600 million dollars in the years 2015 and 2016.

Democrats, meanwhile, have voiced concerns that Trump’s golfing buddies are given special privileges.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, a top Democratic lawmaker, wrote a letter to Homeland Security's acting secretary, Elaine Duke, on Thursday, voicing concerns that “members of the president's private clubs could receive special access to the president not available to private citizens."