Trump Lands Golf Power Role

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President Trump will serve as honorary chairman of the 2026 Presidents Cup, a title the PGA Tour confirmed this week ahead of the September event in Chicago.

Quick Take

  • The PGA Tour announced Trump accepted the honorary chairman role for the 2026 Presidents Cup.
  • The White House shared the news, and Trump reposted the announcement on Truth Social.
  • The tournament runs September 22 through 27 at Medinah Country Club near Chicago.
  • Trump already held this same title once before, back in 2017.

What The PGA Tour Confirmed This Week

The PGA Tour posted the news directly on its site, stating that President Trump agreed to take on the honorary chairman role for next year’s Presidents Cup. The tournament pits a team of American golfers against a squad of international players from outside Europe. It is one of golf’s biggest team events, second only to the Ryder Cup in prestige and TV audience.

News outlets picked up the story fast. The New York Post reported that the White House made the announcement public, and Trump then shared it himself on Truth Social. That two-step rollout, tour statement followed by White House confirmation, matches how these ceremonial appointments have worked for decades.

The 2026 tournament is set for Medinah Country Club, a storied course outside Chicago known for hosting major championships. Play runs from September 22 through 27, giving Trump roughly a year to prepare for whatever ceremonial duties the role involves.

An Honor With A Long, Bipartisan History

Honorary chairman is not a new invention for Trump. Every Presidents Cup since it started in 1994 has featured a sitting or former head of state or government in this role, always representing the host nation. Gerald Ford held the honor first, and Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush all followed him.

Barack Obama served twice, in 2009 and again in 2013, making him the only leader honored more than once. Joe Biden held the title in 2022. Just two years ago, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accepted the same role when the tournament traveled to Montreal. Trump himself already did this job once, back in 2017 at Liberty National in New Jersey.

That 2017 appearance gave the public a preview of what the role can look like in practice. Trump attended the tournament and presented the trophy to the winning American team, dedicating it to hurricane victims that year. It was a ceremonial moment, not a policy one, consistent with how the tour has always framed the position.

Why The Title Matters Beyond The Fairway

The honorary chairman role carries no official duties spelled out in tour materials beyond tradition and presence. Past chairmen have shown up for opening ceremonies, trophy presentations, and photo moments with players and captains. The PGA Tour’s own event guides describe it as a symbolic post tied to the host country’s leadership, not a working management job.

Reaction online split along familiar lines. Supporters treated the news as a well-earned recognition for a president who has long embraced golf, while critics questioned why a private sports organization would spotlight a polarizing political figure. Both reactions say more about today’s political climate than about the tournament itself, since the role has gone to a leader from either party for over thirty years.

What happens next follows a predictable script. Tour officials will finalize logistics in the coming months, and Trump’s team will coordinate his appearance schedule around the tournament dates. Golf fans can expect the same kind of ceremonial role Ford, both Bushes, Clinton, Obama, Biden, and Trudeau all filled before him, this time on home turf in Illinois.

Sources:

townhall.com, pgatour.com, golfchannel.com, en.wikipedia.org, foxsports.com, townandcountrymag.com

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