Trump Reportedly Wants 15-Minute Speech at Presidents Cup First Tee

By Staff Writer

September 27, 2026

1 min read

LoopGolf

Key takeaways

Trump has requested 15 minutes to speak at the first tee before Sunday's singles matches begin, according to Golfweek.
The PGA Tour says only that it is preparing for Trump's potential visit; the White House did not confirm.
Trump is serving as Honorary Chairman, a role he accepted in an Aug. 29 social media announcement.
He would be the second world leader, after Barack Obama, to hold the Honorary Chairman title more than once.

President Donald Trump is expected to do more than make a ceremonial appearance at Sunday's Presidents Cup singles at Medinah. According to multiple sources cited by Golfweek, Trump has requested 15 minutes to address the first tee before play begins.

How has the PGA Tour responded?

The PGA Tour said only that it is preparing for Trump's potential visit, and the White House did not respond to a request for confirmation before publication. U.S. team member Wyndham Clark, the reigning U.S. Open champion, welcomed the news. "It's pretty amazing," Clark said of a sitting president watching him play.

A 15-minute address before the first shot is a bigger stage than any previous Presidents Cup ceremony.

Have presidents addressed the Presidents Cup before?

American presidents have long held ceremonial roles at the biennial competition when it is played in the U.S. Gerald Ford served as honorary chairman of the inaugural 1994 event, and George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have all participated in or attended since. Trump announced on Aug. 29 that he had accepted the Honorary Chairman role for 2026, matching Obama as the only leaders to hold the position more than once.

What else is planned for Trump's visit?

Front Office Sports has reported that Club Car prepared a special golf cart for Trump's use on site. Trump also attended the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black last fall, having accepted the PGA Tour's invitation "at the request" of new commissioner Brian Rolapp.