Trump attends Presidents Cup; dueling protests held outside Medinah Country Club

President Trump paid a visit to the Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago on Sunday for the last day of the Presidents Cup golf tournament, serving as the honorary chairman.

His presence in the Chicagoland area brought crowds of supporters and protesters.

Mr. Trump’s arrival began with a flyover above the country club about an hour and a half before players teed off.

“You’ll be seeing the best players, the best golfers anywhere in the world,” he said.

The Americans emerged from the tournament victorious, rallying from behind on Sunday.

“Our team played unbelievable golf. They went in with a massive deficit, and they came out with a tremendous victory, just a great comeback,” Mr. Trump said after landing at Joint Base Andrews on his way back to Washington, D.C. 

The president spoke briefly with reporters at Chicago O’Hare International Airport before he was driven to the Presidents Cup tournament, where a group protesting Mr. Trump and another supporting him held dueling demonstrations outside the premises.

“Giving the message that Trump is not welcome here in Illinois, in Chicago, in Medinah, in Addison — all of our neighborhoods,” said Allison Galvan, executive director of Grito Latino Addison Community Center Inc.

“We want to give a voice and say, ‘Not everybody in Illinois is a radical leftist,'” said Terry Newsome.

Local police kept an eye on the groups, and things did get a bit tense at one point Sunday morning when participants crossed the street to the other side.

Once inside Medinah Country Club, Mr. Trump came to the first tee box area and remained there for his entire stay to keep security focused on one area.

“I was kind of fangirling over the Secret Service checking my bag,” said Carolyn Friedrichs.

SWAT officers were seen with trucks on fairways around the course and surrounding the first tee box grandstand. That’s also where fans had to go through TSA-style screening to get inside.

“I’m surprised it’s not even more heightened. I think there’s still free range, so it wasn’t that bad,” Friedrichs said.

Mr. Trump appeared on the first tee box in front of thousands ahead of the tournament for brief remarks.

“These people want to see golf, they don’t want to hear speeches,” he said. “I will only say this, our country is doing great, better than ever before.” 

He then stayed, shook each player’s hand and watched all of them tee off for more than an hour. Sources say a suite was built with bulletproof glass for the president, but he didn’t use it.

Many were excited to see a sitting president. The visit was Mr. Trump’s first public Chicago appearance since the 2024 election and organizers say it took months to plan.

“It’s awesome, I think the energy is very high, everyone is so excited. We want to see some good golf, but how cool that the president is here too,” Friedrichs said.

Mr. Trump ended up staying through the end of the tournament and the Presidents Cup closing ceremonies. He then flew back to Washington, D.C., later Sunday evening.