Trump Attends Presidents Cup Amid Divided Reactions

President Donald Trump made a brief appearance at the Presidents Cup on Sunday. He spent over an hour watching players tee off at Medinah Country Club, addressing thousands in the crowd, many of whom wore patriotic attire, while protesters remained at a distance.

“These people want to see golf. They don’t want to hear speeches,” Trump stated before the final round. He claimed, “Our country is doing great, better than ever before.” This marked Trump’s first public appearance in Chicago since winning the 2024 presidential election. His visit occurred a year after he intensified immigration enforcement in Chicago, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz.

During his short speech, Trump criticized “the fake news media,” predicting they would report a negative reception. He spoke highly of the world-class players participating and anticipated an “interesting day of golf.” Trump watched many players as they began their rounds, greeting a few near the course entrance.

On Saturday, the International team secured a strong lead against the U.S., needing to win five of the 12 singles matches to claim the cup. Earlier in the week, global attention focused on Trump as he welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington. At the United Nations, Trump threatened to “annihilate” Iran unless a deal was reached to end the ongoing war initiated with Israel.

Over the weekend, Trump attended a college football game in Tennessee before heading to Chicago on Sunday. The Presidents Cup was anticipated to draw over 30,000 spectators daily, lasting from Thursday to Sunday, according to the Daily Herald.

Trump’s remarks have shown disdain for Chicago in the past. Notably, before last year’s enforcement surge, Trump threatened the city with a meme stating “Chipocalypse Now,” suggesting Chicago would experience the “Department of WAR,” and expressing “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.”

As fog cleared on Sunday, spectators from grandstands cheered Trump at the first tee. Fans donned “Make America Great Again” hats and flag-patterned clothing as conditions improved to warm and sunny weather.

However, Trump’s presence was met with mixed reactions. Alex August, a 26-year-old, expressed “a sense of impending doom” upon hearing of Trump’s attendance, creating an emergency plan with friends. Her associate, Evan Neilson, also 26 and a social studies teacher, noted how Trump’s presence shifted attention away from golf, mirroring national divisions that tint major cultural events.

Trump served as the honorary chairman of the tournament, a role not unusual for him as he did in 2017 at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey. Previous honorary chairmen included President Joe Biden in 2022 and President Barack Obama in 2013 and 2009.

The Medinah course, situated in an unincorporated area bordered by Itasca, Roselle, and Bloomingdale, was extensively prepared for the event. The Daily Herald reported that since April, organizers erected 566,000 square feet of temporary venue space around Medinah’s No. 3 Course to support the club’s limited permanent facilities.