Trump gets credit for U.S. Presidents Cup win at trophy ceremony

MEDINAH, IL — The United States authored a stirring comeback to win the 2026 Presidents Cup and President Donald Trump was there to celebrate with them.

Trump, in his role as honorary chairman, presented the Americans with the Presidents Cup trophy after arriving with his motorcade on the 14th green in front of the Byzantine-style clubhouse at Medinah Country Club soon after the U.S. clinched its 11th consecutive victory at golf's biennial global team match-play event.

The U.S. won nine of the 12 singles matches on Sunday to come from behind to prevail. Afterwards, U.S. team captain Brandt Snedeker praised Trump's presence for helping provide motivation for the final-day charge.

Final round at Medinah delivers tense moments for Presidents Cup

"It's really special because I got to meet President Trump today on the first tee," Snedeker said as Trump watched on with PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. "As he told me this morning, he brought some juice for us today and I told him if it turned out our way, I was going to give him credit. He definitely brought the juice. He deserves a lot of the credit for what happened today."

Trump shook hands and congratulated every U.S. golfer and vice-captain on the team before handing Snedeker the trophy.

About eight hours earlier, Trump also gave brief remarks before the start of the final day at the 2026 Presidents Cup. After being introduced by Rolapp, Trump joked he wasn't brave enough to subject the crowd to a speech. He then jabbed at the "fake news media," whom he said would report that he received a poor reception.

"Brian said could you make a short speech and I said, 'No, I don't have the courage to make a speech. These people want to see golf. They don't want to hear speeches,'" Trump said to the crowd about 30 minutes before the first match teed off. "I will say this, our country is doing great, better than ever before. And now I want to watch the greatest players in the world go at it today and play your hearts out. It should be a very impressive day of golf."

Trump then greeted all the golfers from both the U.S. and International teams before each player teed off on the first hole, which features a grandstand that can accommodate as many as 5,000 people. Fans filled the bleachers and lined the first fairway for the initial groups for Trump's first visit to the Chicago area during his second term in the White House and the final day of golf's biennial global match-play event.

PGA Tour officials announced enhanced security and additional restrictions at Medinah outside Chicago for Trump's visit. It included TSA-style security screening to enter the first tee grandstand. His presence also led to a temporary ground stop for departures at nearby O'Hare International Airport being issued due to "VIP," the Federal Aviation Administration said. Air Force One could be seen flying over Medinah shortly after gates opened on Sunday morning.

Trump was named the honorary chairman of the Presidents Cup last month and announced he would be on hand for the event. It's the second time he's served as honorary chairman for the tournament, having previously hosted it during his first term at his Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey in 2017.

There have been six other U.S. presidents to hold the role of honorary chairman at the Presidents Cup: Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford.