U.S. President Donald Trump isn’t just showing up for Sunday’s Presidents Cup in Medinah, Ill., he’s reportedly asked to speak for a full 15 minutes right on the first tee before play even begins. Yeah, you read that right. According to multiple sources talking to Golfweek, this isn’t just a ceremonial hand-off of a trophy like he did back in 2017. Trump has bigger plans, and it looks like he wants the spotlight squarely on him to kick off the final day.
The Request That’s Got Everyone Talking
The PGA Tour is playing it cool, only saying they’re prepping for Trump’s “potential visit,” which is basically code for “we know something’s up but we ain’t confirming squat yet.” The White House hasn’t even bothered to answer a request for confirmation. But one guy, U.S. Presidents Cup team member and current U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, he’s totally stoked. Clark said, “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 even called Trump “our Commander in Chief” and expects Sunday to be “definitely really exciting.” It’s hard to argue with a player feeling honored, but a 15-minute speech on the tee? That’s a whole different ballgame.
Tradition, Trump Style
Look, we all know presidents show up for the Presidents Cup. It’s a biennial thing, and guys like Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden have all been part of it, often as honorary chairmen. Trump himself accepted the invitation to be Honorary Chairman for this 2026 event back on August 29, announcing it on social media. That actually makes him, with Obama, the only world leader to hold that distinction more than once. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp even put out a statement back then, saying they were “grateful” and that Trump’s involvement “will help elevate the event on the international stage.”
But let’s be real. When Rolapp talked about “bringing people together through the game of golf,” it’s tough to imagine he pictured a full-on, 15-minute speech on the first tee, potentially politicizing the whole competition. Trump’s no stranger to big sporting events, having hit up the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black last fall. You know he loves a crowd.
The Little Details That Matter
Front Office Sports even spilled the beans that Club Car has a special golf cart prepped just for Trump, sitting there on site, ready for him. And here’s a hot take: you can bet your last dollar Trump won’t be swinging by the hospitality chalet of Forvis Mazars, that audit, tax, and advisory firm. Why? Because Trump vs Mazars was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case about subpoenas for his tax returns. Talk about some awkward small talk if he did!
So, get ready for Sunday. It sounds like Medinah is about to see something nobody expected, and whether you’re there for the golf or the spectacle, it’s going to be wild. Will that 15-minute speech actually happen? We’ll all be watching to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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