Team USA stars break silence on Trump’s Presidents Cup visit
Trump named 2026 Presidents Cup chairman
President Donald Trump will serve as honorary chairman of the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club in Illinois. The PGA Tour confirmed his role in August 2026. Trump previously held the same position at the 2017 event.
The tournament runs from September 24 to 27, 2026, in Medinah, Illinois. Team USA captain Brandt Snedeker leads 12 Americans against Geoff Ogilvy’s International Team. Players have already responded to Trump’s planned visit.
Trump made history at 2017 Presidents Cup
Trump’s role as honorary chairman is not new. He held the same title at the October 1, 2017 Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey. Team USA won that competition 19 to 11 over the International Team.
During that ceremony, Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to present the trophy to a winning Presidents Cup captain. He handed it to Steve Stricker on the 14th green. Trump dedicated the win to hurricane victims.
Clinton attended before Trump presented the trophy
Bill Clinton became the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Presidents Cup when he visited the 1996 competition at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia. Arnold Palmer captained the winning U.S. team. Clinton also attended the event in 2000.
Donald Trump attended in 2017, becoming the first sitting president to present the trophy. He is honorary chairman again in 2026 and has said he plans to visit Medinah Country Club.
Trump joins past honorary chairmen
The Presidents Cup has named presidents and other world leaders as honorary chairmen. Before Trump’s 2026 appointment, 6 other U.S. presidents had held the title: Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said Trump’s involvement continues the event’s tradition of engaging leaders from different countries and political backgrounds.
Chris Gotterup reacts to Trump attending
Chris Gotterup, a Presidents Cup rookie, was asked about the chance of Trump watching from the gallery at Medinah. The 27-year-old said he would welcome a visit from any sitting president. Gotterup ranks seventh in the world as of September 2026.
Gotterup said everyone on the team is excited to perform well no matter who shows up to watch. He has won 3 PGA Tour events in 2026, at the Sony Open, WM Phoenix Open, and John Deere Classic.
Gotterup knows Trump from Florida golf
Gotterup told reporters he has gotten to know Trump personally through rounds of golf in Florida. He said the 2 work with similar people on their teams. Gotterup called their playing styles different but complementary.
He described Trump’s shots as big high draws compared with his own low, hard cuts. Gotterup joked the contrast could make them a good potential pairing on the course. The 2 golfers have played together several times.
Brandt Snedeker leads 12-man Team USA
Brandt Snedeker captains the 2026 U.S. Presidents Cup team, finalizing his 12-man roster on September 1, 2026. 6 players qualified automatically, led by world number one Scottie Scheffler. Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Russell Henley and Collin Morikawa also qualified.
Snedeker added 6 captain’s picks, including Chris Gotterup, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay. Jacob Bridgeman and 21-year-old Jackson Koivun round out the roster as first-time Presidents Cup players. Koivun turned pro after leaving Auburn University.
Geoff Ogilvy captains the International Team
Australian Geoff Ogilvy captains the 12-player International Team at Medinah. His roster includes major champions Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama and reigning Open champion Ryan Fox. Scott is making his 12th Presidents Cup appearance, tying the event record.
Four International players are making their Presidents Cup debuts: Fox, Nick Taylor, Ryo Hisatsune and Nico Echavarria. Taylor won at least 1 PGA Tour event in each season from 2023 through 2025.
Team USA dominates Presidents Cup history
The United States holds a commanding 13 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie in Presidents Cup history. Americans have won the last 10 editions of the event. The International Team’s only victory came in 1998 in Australia.
That lopsided record puts extra pressure on Ogilvy’s squad heading into Medinah this week. The Americans have also never lost a Presidents Cup while playing on home soil. Snedeker’s team is chasing an 11th consecutive win.
Fun fact:Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend the final day of a Presidents Cup and present the trophy when he appeared at the 2017 event at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey.
USA won last Presidents Cup 18.5 to 11.5
At the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal in Quebec, the U.S. defeated the International Team 18.5 to 11.5. Xander Schauffele made 4 straight birdies during Sunday’s singles matches as the Americans took control. Keegan Bradley later secured the clinching point.
The result was the U.S. team’s 10th consecutive Presidents Cup victory. Brandt Snedeker’s 2026 team is seeking an 11th straight win at Medinah, with several players returning from the Montreal roster.
US team has more majors and wins
Team USA’s roster carries significantly more hardware into Medinah than the International side. American players have combined for 12 major championships and 91 PGA Tour victories. The International Team has 3 majors and 49 Tour wins between its 12 players.
The U.S. squad also skews younger, with an average age of 30 compared with 32 for the International Team. Scottie Scheffler enters as the reigning world number one and 2026 Tour Championship winner. He leads all American points scorers.
Trump has attended several 2025 sports events
Trump attended the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York in September 2025. Earlier that month, he watched the U.S. Open men’s tennis final in New York.
Before the Ryder Cup, Scottie Scheffler said the president’s support was extremely important to the U.S. team after a difficult few weeks for the country. Captain Keegan Bradley said he was deeply honored that Trump planned to attend.
The World Cup is giving international visitors a closer look at life in the United States. Explore why World Cup visitors say their experiences are changing perceptions of America.
How to watch the 2026 Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup began Thursday, Sept. 24, with 5 four-ball matches at Medinah Country Club. The U.S. took a 3-2 lead into Friday’s foursomes. More team matches are scheduled for Saturday, followed by singles on Sunday, Sept. 27.
Golf Channel carries Friday’s live U.S. coverage, while NBC and Peacock carry weekend coverage. Donald Trump is honorary chairman and has said he plans to attend. The U.S. team is seeking its 11th consecutive Presidents Cup victory.
The possibility of another World Cup in the U.S. is adding to the tournament’s broader impact. Trump pushes for another World Cup on American soil, revealing what is behind the proposal.
What do you think about Trump returning to the Presidents Cup? Share your thoughts on his role at this year’s tournament in the comments.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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