Trump’s Brief Visit at Presidents Cup Draws Crowds Amid Protests
President Donald Trump made a brief appearance at the Presidents Cup, staying for over an hour to watch players tee off at Medinah Country Club. He addressed thousands of spectators, many flaunting patriotic attire, while protesters remained distant from the scene. Trump remarked, “These people want to see golf. They don’t want to hear speeches,” emphasizing that the country was doing better than ever.
This marked Trump’s first public event in the Chicago area since his 2024 presidential victory. His attendance was precisely a year following the Operative Midway Blitz, which saw ramped-up immigration enforcement in Chicago. He took a moment at the start of his speech to criticize “fake news media,” predicting they might misrepresent the crowd’s reception. Trump also forecasted an eventful day of golf, given the presence of world-class players.
While Trump spectated as players began their rounds, he stood close to where many entered the course, engaging with a few of them. On Saturday, the International team finished strongly, leading the U.S. into Sunday’s matches. They needed five victories out of twelve singles matches to secure the cup.
Earlier in the week, Trump was in the spotlight for hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington and addressing the United Nations General Assembly with stark remarks about potentially “annihilating” Iran if no agreement emerged to halt the war initiated with Israel.
On the more recreational side, Trump attended a college football game in Tennessee on Saturday before flying to Chicago Sunday morning. The Presidents Cup anticipated over 30,000 spectators daily from Thursday through Sunday, according to the Daily Herald.
Trump’s history with Chicago includes several disdainful comments, notably before last year’s immigration enforcement surge. He threatened the city via a media post by suggesting imminent action from the “Department of WAR.”
After fog cleared from the western suburbs, Trump received cheers from packed grandstands around the first tee. Attendees sported “Make America Great Again” hats, flag-themed polos, and sweaters as the weather turned warm and sunny. Despite this, Trump’s presence wasn’t universally welcomed. Protesters clashed with supporters at Medinah Country Club during the event.
Alex August, 26, voiced feelings of “impending doom” upon learning of Trump’s visit, creating an emergency plan with friends. Sitting in the front rows, social studies teacher Evan Neilson, also 26, commented on how Trump’s presence could distract from the tournament, highlighting the country’s political divides.
Trump assumed the honorary chairman role for the tournament, a position he previously held during the 2017 event at Liberty National Golf Club. The title isn’t uncommon among presidents; Joe Biden and Barack Obama have also served as honorary chairmen in past Presidents Cups.
The Medinah course, located in the unincorporated Medinah community, is bordered by Itasca, Roselle, and Bloomingdale. Since April, organizers have erected 566,000 square feet of temporary venue space to supplement the club’s limited permanent facilities, ensuring readiness for the Cup.