A Presidential Visit Met A Wild Golf Finish

smiling man in a navy suit at an outdoor event — Photo: Gints Ivuskans / Shutterstock

President Trump landed at Medinah Country Club on Sunday to a roaring “USA” chant as Team USA rallied to defend the Presidents Cup trophy.

Story Snapshot

President Trump served as Honorary Chairman of the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club near Chicago.
Air Force One flew low over the course Sunday morning, drawing loud cheers from the crowd before he arrived.
Trump joined Team USA Captain Brandt Snedeker and presented the trophy after the Americans held off the International Team.
This marked Trump’s second time holding the honorary chairman role, after first serving in 2017.
Heavy security and dueling protests and supporter rallies formed outside the course ahead of his visit.

Trump Returns To The Presidents Cup As Honorary Chairman

President Trump touched down near Chicago on Sunday for the closing day of the 2026 Presidents Cup, a role he accepted back in August as Honorary Chairman of the tournament. The event ran September 22-27 at Medinah Country Club’s famed Course No. 3, marking the first time a sitting president attended the competition since Trump’s own 2017 appearance at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey.

Air Force One made a low pass over Medinah Country Club Sunday morning, louder than the commercial jets descending into O’Hare International Airport every 70 minutes that week. Fans packed the grandstands well before the president’s scheduled appearance, and the flyover set off cheers that swept through the crowd long before his motorcade even reached the course.

Crowd Erupts With Patriotic Chants As Trump Speaks

Once Trump arrived, he addressed a fired-up crowd of golf fans, who broke into chants of “USA” and “Four more years!” as he spoke. He then made his way to the first tee and later linked up with Team USA Captain Brandt Snedeker during the final singles matches, capping a visit that turned a golf tournament into a full-blown patriotic celebration for supporters on hand.

The moment fit a familiar pattern for this president. Six U.S. presidents have held the honorary chairman title before him, and the role itself carries no real authority over team selection or the competition. It’s ceremonial, built around attendance and the trophy presentation, continuing a tradition of American leaders standing alongside golf’s biggest stars.

Security Tightens As Supporters And Protesters Gather Outside

Trump’s visit came with the security footprint that now follows him to nearly every public event. Gates opened at 8 a.m. Sunday, though his appearance wasn’t expected until the closing ceremony around 11 a.m., giving fans hours to settle in under watchful eyes from law enforcement. Outside the course, supporters and protesters organized separate gatherings, a now-routine split reaction whenever the president steps into a public spotlight.

None of that overshadowed the moment for the fans who showed up to cheer. Team USA, under Snedeker, held off Geoff Ogilvy’s International Team to retain the Cup, and Trump was there for the trophy presentation as the crowd erupted in celebration. For supporters who traveled to Medinah, the president’s arrival by Air Force One and his walk onto the course delivered exactly the kind of unapologetic American spectacle they came out to see.

Donald Trump attended the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club in Illinois, arriving for the final day of the golf competition and visiting the first tee. Demonstrators rallied nearby, using the slogan “Kick Trump out of Illinois” as they protested his visit. The event marked… pic.twitter.com/6IZNHhUVco

— Cool X Media Group (@teslamillion) September 28, 2026

Trump’s appearance also underscored how thoroughly he has woven himself into major sporting events during his second term, following stops at other high-profile competitions throughout the year. Whether fans cheer or protest, his presence guarantees national attention, turning a golf tournament into a platform where the crowd’s energy speaks for itself, chants of national pride ringing out under a Chicago sky.