Gayton McKenzie on Tuesday professed his love for former American President Donald Trump.

In yet another controversial social media post by the minister, McKenzie addressed “lies in the media” about him but made sure he also threw in an unexpected adoration for Trump.

Trump survived an assassination attempt, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday when a shooter fired at him during an elections rally. It appeared the bullet grazed his ear.

The swashbuckling new minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Mckenzie said on X: “I had 10 meetings yesterday, I arrive everyday at my office at 7am and leaves around 11am, I mention my work on social media because the media lies constantly abt me, I prefer to keep ppl up to date myself. Julle baiza, ek baiza nie btw, I love Donald Trump. Salute.”

I had 10 meetings yesterday, I arrive everyday at my office at 7am and leaves around 11am, I mention my work on social media because the media lies constantly abt me, I prefer to keep ppl up to date myself. Julle baiza, ek baiza nie btw, I love Donald Trump. Salute https://t.co/jK1OiknwGp pic.twitter.com/HjjuEDyK37
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 16, 2024

Grabbing headlines

McKenzie has kept his name in the news since he took office, last week releasing the list of 3,962 payments for Covid-19 beneficiaries paid out by his department in 2020/2021.

The exact amount paid out was a whopping R72,036,097.14 - with payments ranging between R2,000 and R75,000.

The majority of payments ranged between R10,000 and R20,000. In fact, there were more than 1,000 payments of exactly R10,000, and also over 1,000 amounts paid out of precisely R20,000.

There were 166 payments of exactly R53,000 and eight payments of R75,000 in a document of 90 pages. None of these payments were for sports stars.

The promises - populist others may say - that the Patriotic Alliance leader has made, have come large and quickly, and that has seen his popularity rise.

@Golfhackno1

IOL Sport

20th of July, pls join me, did you run today ?🔥![CDATA[]]>🔥![CDATA[]]>🔥![CDATA[]]>🔥![CDATA[]]>🔥![CDATA[]]>🔥![CDATA[]]>🔥 pic.twitter.com/qgUrOnRq4E
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 10, 2024