President Trump Joins Ryder Cup Fanfare at Bethpage Black
In a high-profile appearance that added to the already electric atmosphere, President Donald Trump attended the opening session of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York on Friday. Accompanied by his granddaughter Kai Trump and sporting golf shoes that signaled his personal connection to the sport, the president arrived via Marine One shortly after Team USA’s Bryson DeChambeau launched an impressive 344-yard opening drive to kick off the prestigious international competition. The timing of his arrival placed him in the midst of what had already become an energized spectator experience at the 45th installment of this storied golf tournament.
The Ryder Cup marks Trump’s return to professional golf as a spectator since his appearance at the LIV Golf event at his Bedminster course in New Jersey last August. His history with professional golf includes several notable appearances: he visited his Doral course in Miami just before a LIV Golf event earlier this year, participated in a LIV Golf pro-am at his Washington, D.C. course in 2023, and attended the closing ceremony of the 2017 Presidents Cup in Jersey City where he witnessed Team USA’s victory over Team International. This latest golf appearance adds to Trump’s recent string of sports attendance in the New York metro area, following his presence at the men’s U.S. Open final on September 7 and a New York Yankees game against the Detroit Tigers that coincided with the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
The significance of the president’s attendance resonated strongly with players from both teams. Team USA star Bryson DeChambeau expressed hope that Trump’s presence would “inspire us to victory,” while world number one Scottie Scheffler emphasized the patriotic significance of the moment: “To have the president here, it’s been a tough few weeks for our country with some of the stuff that’s been going on, and to have our president here and for us to represent the United States of America, albeit being in a golf tournament, is extremely important for us.” Scheffler’s comments reflected the deeper meaning many players found in competing for their country while having the sitting president in attendance, adding another layer of national identity to an already patriotic sporting event.
Team USA captain Keegan Bradley spoke with particular reverence about the presidential visit, describing it as “absolutely incredible” and expressing deep gratitude for Trump’s support. “I’m deeply honored that the President of the United States is going to come support our team at the Ryder Cup,” Bradley told reporters. “I think anytime you can be around a current president is a pretty phenomenal thing, but when you’re representing your country at a place like Bethpage Black in New York, having the president there to support you is something that is just absolutely incredible.” His comments highlighted the special intersection of sport, national pride, and political presence that made this Ryder Cup opening day particularly noteworthy for the American team and their supporters.
Even members of Team Europe acknowledged the significance of Trump’s attendance, though with varying perspectives. Tyrrell Hatton viewed it as a testament to the tournament’s importance, noting, “I think it just shows how special the Ryder Cup is and what a sporting event it’s become. I mean, Trump loves golf, so it’s not really a surprise that he wants to be here and enjoy the atmosphere.” Hatton’s comments reflected an understanding of how presidential attendance elevated the already prestigious competition to an even higher profile. In contrast, his teammate Robert MacIntyre offered a more understated assessment, describing Trump as “just another spectator” – perhaps an attempt to maintain focus on the competition itself rather than the political dimension of the day.
As the tournament progresses toward its Sunday conclusion, both teams face significant historical challenges. Team Europe enters as the defending champions but must overcome the formidable obstacle that no road team has claimed victory since their own triumph in 2012. Meanwhile, Team USA aims to prevent Europe from achieving back-to-back victories, something no team has accomplished since Europe’s impressive three consecutive wins from 2010 to 2014. With the presidential spotlight adding extra attention to this year’s competition, players from both sides now face the dual pressure of performing at golf’s highest level while representing their respective teams in front of an audience that includes not just passionate fans, but the sitting American president. As the weekend unfolds at Bethpage Black, the combination of political presence, international competition, and golf excellence promises to make this Ryder Cup a particularly memorable chapter in the tournament’s storied history.
