Donald Trump to Serve as Honorary Chairman at Presidents Cup in Chicago
Former President Donald Trump will attend the final day of the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club, continuing a tradition of presidential involvement in the golf event.
Donald Trump is set to attend the final day of the Presidents Cup, serving as the event's honorary chairman at Medinah Country Club near Chicago on Sunday. This marks a continuation of the tradition where American and international leaders host the biennial golf competition.
Trump previously held the role of honorary chairman for the 2017 Presidents Cup in New Jersey. He was the second sitting U.S. president to attend the event. While he did not attend the 2022 tournament in Charlotte, he did serve as its honorary chairman. In 2023, then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was present for one day of the tournament in Montreal.
In the past year, Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend the Ryder Cup, an event that experienced significant fan delays due to enhanced security measures.
The Presidents Cup features a team competition between the United States and a squad comprised of golfers from Asia, Africa, South America, and Australia. Notable players include Si Woo Kim, Adam Scott, and Hideki Matsuyama for the International team, and Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, and Xander Schauffele for the U.S. team.
This appearance will be the first time in 2026 that Trump will be present at a major golf event held at a course he does not own. He has previously attended LIV Golf events at his own courses, as well as the PGA Tour's return to Doral in May and the Irish Open at Doonbeg.
Golf has remained a significant aspect of Trump's activities. According to DidTrumpGolfToday.com, he has golfed 137 times over the last 611 days, with an estimated cost to taxpayers of $191 million during his non-consecutive White House terms. A 2017 Government Accountability Office report detailed four trips to a Trump property in Florida costing approximately $13.6 million.
Trump's social engagements often involve golf. He was recently seen returning to the White House on a Saturday night after an abrupt end to a trip to Camp David, accompanied by golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Gary Player. DeChambeau and his girlfriend, Mikayla Demaiter, were observed disembarking from Marine One at the White House. Player, 90, was also photographed aboard the helicopter as it landed.
Trump has had prior connections with Player and DeChambeau, who have been guests at his clubs. Demaiter, a model and influencer, was first linked with DeChambeau after she posted from a LIV Golf event at Trump National Bedminster.