Golfweek reports President Donald Trump asked to speak for 15 minutes at the first tee before the Presidents Cup final matches in Medinah, Illinois. The PGA Tour says it is "preparing for Trump's potential visit," while the White House has not confirmed the request. Though Bill Clinton once spoke briefly at the event, there is no precedent for a president addressing spectators before final-round play for that length of time. Trump also attended the Texas–Tennessee game this weekend and praised quarterback Arch Manning.
Trump Reportedly Asked To Speak for 15 Minutes Before Presidents Cup Final
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
President Donald Trump has reportedly asked to deliver remarks before the decisive matches at the Presidents Cup golf tournament in Medinah, Illinois, according to Golfweek.
Golfweek reported that Trump requested to speak "for 15 minutes" at the first tee ahead of the final matches — an unusual request for the PGA Tour. The Tour and the White House did not independently confirm that the president formally requested that length of time.
Context And Precedent
While President Bill Clinton spoke for roughly six minutes before the tournament's opening ceremony in 2000, a review of past Presidents Cups found no record of presidents addressing spectators before final-round play, and none for as long as 15 minutes. In August, Trump said on Truth Social that he accepted the PGA Tour's invitation to serve as Honorary Chairman of the Presidents Cup for a second time, a distinction previously held only by President Barack Obama.
The Golfweek article quoted PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp saying, "The Presidents Cup has a proud tradition of engaging world leaders from across the globe and across political lines, and President Trump's involvement continues that legacy." When asked for comment, the PGA Tour said it was "preparing for Trump's potential visit." The White House did not verify the report.
This Weekend's Appearances
Sunday would mark Trump's second professional sports outing that weekend. On Saturday, he traveled to Tennessee to attend the rivalry game between top-ranked Texas and the Tennessee Volunteers. In an interview with Outkick's Clay Travis, Trump praised Texas quarterback Arch Manning's "great genetics" and spoke favorably of the Manning family.
"Well, he's already looking really good and I know the brothers and they're fantastic. They're fantastic people. Great quarterbacks and great football players. And he's got great genetics, I would say. If you're gonna go for genetics, you can't do much better. And he's playing pretty well today," Trump said of Arch Manning's NFL prospects.
The report first appeared on Mediaite and was summarized by Golfweek. Details remain provisional pending confirmation from the PGA Tour or the White House.
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