Trump cited pro golfer’s anecdote to make case for voter fraud: report

President Trump relayed a story from a German professional golfer as he offered evidence of widespread voter fraud to lawmakers, according to a new report.

Trump shared an anecdote involving “the very famous golfer, Bernhard Langer” when meeting House and Senate leaders Monday, The New York Times reported Wednesday, citing people in the room.

The president reportedly began Monday’s huddle by claiming fraudulent ballots cast by “illegals” cost him the popular vote during last year’s presidential election.

{mosads}Trump then shared a story from Langer after a Democrat protested his claims, according to three staff members present for the meeting in the State Dining Room.

The president reportedly told listeners that Langer, 59, was informed he could not vote on Election Day while waiting in line at a polling place near his home in Florida.

Trump said Langer described voters around him in line who did not look as if they should be allowed to vote but were permitted to cast provisional ballots.

The president then reportedly mentioned Latin American nations that the voters may have originated from.

The trio of aides also said Trump described Langer as a supporter who left his local polling station feeling frustrated.

Trump’s story was greeted with silence from assembled parties, they added, before White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) urged the president to move on.

Langer’s daughter on Wednesday said her father is a German citizen with permanent residence in Boca Raton, Fla., and is not allowed to vote

“He is a citizen of Germany,” Christina Langer told the Times when reached on her father’s cellphone. “He is not a friend of President Trump’s, and I don’t know why he would talk about him.”

Langer added her father was “very busy” and could not answer further questions about the supposed anecdote.

A senior White House staff member told the Times Wednesday, however, he has heard Trump tell the same story about Langer before.

The staffer, who was not at Monday’s meeting, noted Langer saw Trump in Florida during Thanksgiving and shared a story with him about a friend who had been blocked from voting.

Trump earlier Wednesday, meanwhile, said he will launch a “major” investigation into voting fraud nationwide.

“Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!” he tweeted.