Trump wants 15 minutes for speech on Sunday's first tee at Presidents Cup

MEDINAH, Ill. – U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to do more than just make an appearance at the Presidents Cup on Sunday. Hand out the trophy as he did in 2017? Possibly. But Trump has bigger plans. According to multiple sources, Golfweek has learned that Trump requested to speak at the first tee for 15 minutes before the start of play.

The PGA Tour would only say that it is preparing for Trump’s potential visit. A request for confirmation from the White House wasn’t answered before publication.

U.S. Presidents Cup team member and reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark said he welcomed Trump’s attendance. “Being an American and having the President of the United States coming to watch you play golf is something that as a kid you don’t ever imagine or fathom happening. I just think it’s pretty amazing,” he said. “”He’s our Commander in Chief, and it’s going to be definitely really exciting on Sunday.”

It is not uncommon for an American president to make a ceremonial appearance at the Presidents Cup when the biennial competition is held in the United States. Former President Gerald Ford was the honorary chairman of the inaugural competition in 1994 and it has been a tradition of the event for a world leader to hold a similar post.

In addition to Trump and Ford, U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have all participated in or attended the Presidents Cup.

Trump announced in a social media post on Aug. 29 that he had accepted an invitation to be the Honorary Chairman, matching Obama as the only world leaders to hold that distinction more than once.

“We are grateful to President Trump for accepting our invitation to serve as Honorary Chairman for the 2026 Presidents Cup,” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp in a statement at the time. “The Presidents Cup has a proud tradition of engaging world leaders from across the globe and across political lines, and President Trump’s involvement continues that legacy. His participation will help elevate the event on the international stage while furthering our mission of bringing people together through the game of golf.”

But it’s hard to imagine that Rolapp was expecting Trump to politicize the competition between the U.S. and a team from around the world, excluding Europe with a full-fledged speech. Trump also attended the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in N.Y., last fall.

Front Office Sports reported that Club Car has prepared a special golf cart for Trump that is on site for his use.

One thing we’d be willing to bet on – Trump won’t be paying a visit to the hospitality chalet of Presidents Cup proud partner Forvis Mazars, an audit, tax, advisory and consulting firm that used to be associated with the President and his business practices.

Trump vs Mazars is considered a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case involving subpoenas issued by committees of the US House of Representatives to obtain the tax returns of Trump. Mazars was willing to comply with the subpoena, but Trump, in his personal capacity, sued Mazars to stop the firm from providing the information sought. In February 2022, the accounting firm severed ties with Trump and the Trump Organization, stating that a decade’s worth of the former president’s financial statements from 2011 to 2020 “should no longer be relied upon.”

Having concluded meetings and a state dinner with China’s President Xi on Friday, Trump shifted into sports fan mode and was planning to attend the Texas-Tennessee college football game on Saturday before his Presidents Cup appearance on Sunday.

“At the request of the PGA Tour, and its great new Commissioner, Brian Rolapp, it is my honor to accept being the Honorary Chairman of the upcoming Presidents Cup,” said President Trump via Truth Social. “This will be a particularly exciting event. Both teams are ‘loaded’ with talent. I look forward to being there, and greeting all of these fantastic athletes, on both teams! Thank you for your attention to this matter. See you in Chicago!”

Here’s the full list of U.S. Presidents alongside many other distinguished global leaders who have filled the position of Honorary Chairman:

• 2024: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada

• 2022: 46th U.S. President Joe Biden

• 2019: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Australia

• 2017: 45th U.S. President Donald J. Trump

• 2015: President Park Geun-hye, South Korea

• 2013: 44th U.S. President Barack Obama

• 2011: Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Australia

• 2009: 44th U.S. President Barack Obama

• 2007: Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada

• 2005: 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush

• 2003: President Thabo Mbeki, Republic of South Africa

• 2000: 42nd U.S. President William Jefferson Clinton

• 1998: Prime Minister John Howard, Australia

• 1996: 41st U.S. President George H.W. Bush

• 1994: 38th U.S. President Gerald R. Ford

2024: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada

2022: 46th U.S. President Joe Biden

2019: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Australia

2017: 45th U.S. President Donald J. Trump

2015: President Park Geun-hye, South Korea

2013: 44th U.S. President Barack Obama

2011: Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Australia

2009: 44th U.S. President Barack Obama

2007: Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada

2005: 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush

2003: President Thabo Mbeki, Republic of South Africa

2000: 42nd U.S. President William Jefferson Clinton

1998: Prime Minister John Howard, Australia

1996: 41st U.S. President George H.W. Bush

1994: 38th U.S. President Gerald R. Ford

Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour and the business of golf.