MEDINAH, Ill. – President Donald Trump, maybe a minute to talk with Jim Furyk and Brian Rolapp, CEO of the PGA Tourthree times he mimed a golf swing before extending his arms to his sides, which seemed to ask a question. About 300 meters away, Sam Burns and Sungjae Im were playing Medinah Country Clubthe first dark. In the background, Lil Jon’s “Turned Down for What” played.
If you want to know what went down during Trump’s visit here on Sunday for the Presidents’ Cup last day, that scene should give some insight.
Talk about golf. There was maybe about two hours of it. And a minute of fan talk.
Pro golf. There was also this.
Flying bass. Yes, there was a lot of it. And eventually a dance.
From 10:58 am local time to 1:16 pm, here are Trump’s movements, chronicled newspaper style.
9:20 am CT
Air Force One was flying over Medina. You’ve heard it if you’re around. You have seen A fan to the right of the 1st tee build-out told a friend to watch the exhaust cloud.
At the end of last month, Trump had said that he had accepted an invitation to participate in the event that has his current role in his name, joining other presidents who have done so, but the official word that it would be Sunday did not come until Saturday night, when the PGA Tour sent an email to reporters with a subject of “IMPORTANT: Enhanced security measures on Sunday.” The security measures were there. To get to the 1st tee, fans and everyone else went through a metal detector; a member of the Secret Service also kept a reporter’s notebook that said members of the Secret Service were, in fact, present.
On the 1st tee, the 5,000-seat arena was mostly full by 9:45. Word got out that everyone needed to stay in place starting at 10. Trump and his party had a glass seating area behind and just to the left of the tee box.
On top of the video screen to the left of the tee box was a member of the Secret Service watching it all.
Getty Images
10:30 am CT
Rolapp, the PGA Tour CEO, walked to the 1st tee from an entrance to the left of the presidential seating area, followed by Trump. A microphone was set up just behind the tee box, and Rolapp spoke first, thanking and introducing Trump.
For just over a minute, the president spoke. He had been there a report that he had asked to speak for 15 minutes. There was reference to this, with the media.
“You know the fake news media will say I got a very negative reception,” he began. “But we had a good reception. We love what we do. Our country is doing great.
“Now Brian said, ‘Can 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.
“I’m just saying this. Our country is getting great, better than ever. I want to see the greatest players in the world come out and play, and play your hearts out. It’s going to be an interesting day of golf. Thank you, everyone. Thank you. I love you. I love you guys. Thank you.”
10:58 am
Team International’s Ryo Hisatsune bolted from the same entry that Trump and Rolapp did, followed by Team USA’s Cameron Young. They were the first couple of singles. In pre-tournament press conferences, players were asked about Trump’s potential appearance. Wyndham Clark called it amazing; said a call he received from Trump after winning this year’s US Open was “one of the coolest calls of my life.” Chris Gotterup called it cool. Patrick Cantlay called it great.
Canada’s Corey Conners of the Internationals also had this exchange; The reporter’s question is in italics:
What was your reaction when you heard that President Trump announced that he was going to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America?
“Honestly, I didn’t read too much into it,” Conners said. “Yeah, I don’t really have an opinion one way or the other.”
From the first pairing to the last (Ryan Fox of the Internationals and the American Xander Schauffele), Trump and Rolapp stood out; most of the time, they were standing right in front of Trump’s seating area, and were directly in the sun. Occasionally, they sought shade. After a while, Trump started wearing a white hat with “USA” embroidered on it. Trump also shook hands with all 24 players. American greetings were made with a few words. International greetings occasionally went a bit like the one with Adam Scott, which you can see by clicking here.
11:54 am
Trump spoke with Furyk.
At various other points, the president also spoke with US captain Brandt Snedeker, international captain Geoff Ogilvy, vice captains, caddies and players’ wives who were brought in – one group took a photo. Trump also listened to speeches by special guests and former players Hal Sutton and Lee Trevino. Trevino said, “Either way, golf won.”
Almost all of Trump’s words were said to Rolapp, however. For almost two hours they were outside, they talked. Trump, you may have seen, plays golf and owns a golf course. One of his venues, Trump International Doral, hosted a PGA Tour event this year.
But there were fan moments, though. Seconds before American Chris Gotterup, one yelled, “I love you, Donny,” which drew a smile. Seconds before the American Jackson Koivun started, another fan shouted: “We love you, Trump”, and he saluted. Three times, he signed items for fans, and a member of his security team returned them.
Outside Medina, various outlets also reported protests of Trump’s visit.
12:53 p.m
Trump danced briefly. The music was constant. At this point, the stands were less than half full.
1:16 p.m
Trump went inside. The last group had started at 1:14.
1:26 p.m
Trump left the 1st tee stands. A black Cadillac was waiting for him.
At the metal detectors that I passed four hours before, I saw one of the dogs sniffing bombs already in his kennel.
It’s 5-ish
The President of the United States was on the 14th green, after the United States won the Presidents’ Cup. , at the trophy ceremony, shook the hands of every U.S. player and captain.
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