Donald Trump drew attention at the Presidents Cup when he kissed Jillian Stacey, wife of PGA Tour star Keegan Bradley, on the cheek twice. The interaction took place as Trump, serving as honorary chairman for the second time, greeted players at Medinah Country Club in Chicago.
Arrival and Speech at Medinah
Trump gave a brief speech lasting less than a minute upon arrival, after reports suggested he had sought a 15-minute speaking slot immediately before the opening tee time. He then acknowledged each player personally at the first tee, with his encounter with Bradley and his wife particularly capturing observers' attention.
The trio exchanged words momentarily before Bradley seemed to step forward to stop Trump from attempting to embrace his wife once more. The U.S. co-captain and his wife left shortly after the interaction, according to the Mirror US.
Trump's Comments on Reception
Trump's short speech opened with an attack on the 'fake news media.' "Thank you very much," Trump said as he approached the microphone. "You know the fake news media will say I got a very bad reception. But we got a very good reception. They love what we're doing."
His comments were brief, as the President quickly turned his attention to the state of the nation and the tournament itself. "Brian said, 'Could you make a short speech?' And I said, 'No, I don't have the courage to make a speech. These people want to see golf. They don't want to hear speeches.'"
Operational Impact and Recent Appearances
"I'll only say this: Our country is doing great, better than ever before. And now, I want to watch the greatest players in the world go out and play, and play their hearts out. It's going to be a very interesting day of golf. Thank you, everybody. Thank you, I love you all. Thank you very much."
This marks another golf tournament appearance for Trump this season. The president made the journey to Doonbeg recently to watch Shane Lowry claim his first individual triumph in four years, touching down in his distinctive helicopters. His helicopters and arrival sparked chaos in Ireland, with comparable disruption witnessed in Chicago at the Presidents Cup, where enhanced security measures impacted journalists, fans, staff members and volunteers during Sunday's singles competition.
"At the request of the PGA Tour, and its Great new Commissioner, Brian Rolapp, it is my Honor to accept being the Honorary Chairman of the upcoming Presidents Cup, which will take place at the Medinah Country Club in Chicago," Trump shared on social media ahead of the tournament. Meanwhile, a golfing legend revealed Trump's true ability on the course amid claims of cheating.
