President Donald Trump attended the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club on Sunday, delivering brief remarks and staying to watch players tee off. Thousands of spectators, many wearing patriotic attire, gathered at the event as protests took place far from the main activity.
Trump spoke before the final round, emphasizing that attendees were interested in golf rather than speeches. He stated, “our country is doing great, better than ever before.” This marked his first visit to the Chicago area since winning the 2024 presidential election. Just a year ago, his administration had intensified immigration enforcement in Chicago as part of “Operation Midway Blitz.”
“These people want to see golf. They don’t want to hear speeches.”
Beginning his speech, Trump addressed the media, predicting they would claim he received a negative reception. He also commented on the anticipated performance of top golfers, forecasting “a very interesting day of golf.” As players progressed onto the course, Trump observed, standing nearby the tee off points, interacting with several golfers.
The tournament’s International team had shown strong performance on Saturday, leading the U.S. team going into Sunday. The International squad needed to secure only five of the twelve singles matches on Sunday to clinch the cup.
Earlier that week, Trump’s international diplomatic focus was on high-profile meetings. He welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and addressed the United Nations General Assembly, suggesting potential military action against Iran if ongoing conflict resolution efforts with Israel failed.
Amidst these affairs, Trump shifted his attention toward recreational activities, attending Tennessee’s college football game against Texas before traveling to the Chicago vicinity. The Daily Herald noted expectations of more than 30,000 daily spectators during the tournament from Thursday to Sunday.
Throughout the years, Trump has expressed disdain for Chicago, notably before the previous year’s immigration enforcement push. At that time, he addressed the city critically on Truth Social, declaring “Chipocalypse Now” and “Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” followed by assertions such as, “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.”
As fog lifted over the western suburbs, crowds in U-shaped grandstands around the first tee cheered for Trump. Attendees wore “Make America Great Again” hats and various flag-themed polos and sweaters as the weather turned warm and sunny.
Despite the reception, Trump’s presence motivated differing sentiments. Protesters gathered outside the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club on September 27th. Alex August expressed concern upon learning of Trump’s attendance, even planning an emergency strategy with friends. She discussed the focus shift Trump’s visit caused with her companion Evan Neilson, a social studies teacher.
Neilson reflected on how major cultural events are influenced by the current political climate. Trump was named honorary chairman of this tournament, a role not unfamiliar to him. He previously held the position in 2017 at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey. The role has been held by other presidents, including President Joe Biden in 2022 and President Barack Obama in 2013 and 2009.
Medinah, an unincorporated community bordered by Itasca, Roselle, and Bloomingdale, hosted the tournament requiring extensive preparation. According to the Daily Herald, organizers created 566,000 square feet of temporary venue space around Medinah’s No. 3 Course since April to support the club’s limited permanent facilities.