Donald J. Trump attends 2026 Presidents Cup
President Donald J. Trump, the 47th president of the United States, attended the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club in Illinois on Sunday, Sept. 27. The event ran from Sept. 24 to Sept. 27.
He served as honorary chairman, a role traditionally offered to sitting presidents. According to ABC7 Chicago, Trump arrived for an Air Force One flyover and spoke briefly on the first tee before Sunday singles began.
Trump and Adam Scott share a long handshake
Donald Trump and Australian golfer Adam Scott shared an extended handshake at Medinah on Sunday, according to Yahoo Sports. Scott appeared to pull away before Trump released his grip, and both men seemed to smile.
Trump used his signature grab-and-tug move as Scott approached, then leaned in to speak quietly into the golfer’s ear. Scott then went on his way afterward, according to AOL and Irish Star reports.
Trump’s listed height is 6 feet 3 inches
White House physician reports from 2018 and 2019 list Donald Trump at 6 feet 3 inches. The 2019 report, released after his exam at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, was covered by NBC News.
Trump has long publicly said he is 6 feet 3 inches tall, according to the Irish Star. Adam Scott is officially listed at 6 feet, which is 3 inches shorter than the president’s stated height.
Trump height debate follows golf handshake
Video of Trump shaking hands with Adam Scott at the Presidents Cup on Sept. 27, 2026, circulated on social media. Some viewers said the two appeared to be similar in height. Scott is listed at 6 feet tall.
Reports also referenced photos of Trump with Prince William from their Dec. 7, 2024, meeting in Paris. William is widely listed at 6 feet 3 inches, the same height Trump has previously reported. Photo and video comparisons alone cannot verify a person’s exact height.
Trump returns as Presidents Cup chairman
Trump served as honorary chairman at the 2017 Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. He became the first sitting U.S. president to present the trophy, according to Yahoo Sports.
He is honorary chairman again in 2026 as the 47th U.S. president. His honorary position has traditionally been held by a leader of the host country. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison held the role when the Presidents Cup was played in Melbourne in 2019.
Team USA wins 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah
Team USA beat the International Team 17 to 13 at Medinah Country Club to win the 2026 Presidents Cup. It was the 14th American victory overall and the 11th in a row, according to GolfMagic.
The United States trailed the Internationals 10.5 to 7.5 entering Sunday singles, then won 9.5 of the 12 available points. Sky Sports reported the Americans needed 8 points to avoid a first defeat since 1998.
US completes largest Presidents Cup comeback
The United States completed the largest final day comeback in Presidents Cup history on Sept. 27, 2026. The International Team entered Sunday singles with a 10.5 to 7.5 lead. It was the first time the Internationals led entering the final day on U.S. soil.
American players won nine of the 12 singles matches and tied one. The United States earned 9.5 points compared with 2.5 for the International Team. The 7-point difference was the largest singles margin in Presidents Cup history.
Jackson Koivun and Jacob Bridgeman lead rally
Jackson Koivun, a 21-year-old rookie, finished the Presidents Cup with 2 wins and 1 tie. He defeated Si Woo Kim 2 up in Sunday singles. Koivun had trailed by 2 holes through 10 before completing the comeback.
Rookie Jacob Bridgeman secured the deciding point by defeating Min Woo Lee 1 up on the final hole. Bridgeman had trailed with 3 holes remaining before turning the match around. The victory gave him his first Presidents Cup point.
Fun fact: Adam Scott reached his historic 100th consecutive major appearance at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, joining Jack Nicklaus as the only players to achieve this milestone.
Brandt Snedeker explains Sunday lineup plan
Brandt Snedeker placed several of his strongest players early in the Sunday singles lineup. The goal was to give the United States a fast start on the scoreboard. The Americans went on to win 9.5 of the 12 available singles points.
After the victory, Snedeker said his team never lost faith despite entering Sunday three points behind. He also referenced Medinah’s history of dramatic comebacks, including the 2012 Ryder Cup. Snedeker played for the U.S. team that lost to Europe there in 2012.
Adam Scott ties record with 12 appearances
Adam Scott played in his 12th consecutive Presidents Cup in 2026, tying Phil Mickelson’s record. The 46-year-old Australian made his Presidents Cup debut in 2003 at age 23. That International Team also included Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.
Scott has now appeared in 12 Presidents Cups without being part of a winning International Team. His debut in 2003 ended in a 17 to 17 tie with the United States. That remains the closest Scott has come to winning the Presidents Cup.
Trump handshakes drew notice since 2017
Trump’s handshakes with political leaders received media attention during his first term, which began on Jan. 20, 2017. One widely reported example involved French President Emmanuel Macron at a NATO meeting on May 25, 2017. Photos showed the two leaders gripping hands firmly during the exchange.
Trump and Macron had another extended handshake in Paris on July 14, 2017. The exchange took place after the Bastille Day military parade. AFP reported that the farewell handshake lasted about 25 seconds.
Trump once called handshakes barbaric
In his 1997 book The Art of the Comeback, Trump wrote that he had considered newspaper ads calling for the handshake to be abolished. He had also described handshaking as “barbaric.” His concerns about the practice were linked to germs and cleanliness.
Trump continued shaking hands regularly during his 2016 presidential campaign. CBS News reported in May 2017 that his earlier aversion appeared to have eased. During his first foreign trip as president, he exchanged handshakes with leaders in Israel and at the Vatican.
The USA’s World Cup exit sparked a wider conversation beyond the tournament itself. Explore why President Trump faces criticism after the USA’s World Cup elimination and what fueled the reaction.
Presidents Cup returns to Australia in 2028
The next Presidents Cup is scheduled for Dec. 7-10, 2028, at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia. The competition began in 1994, and the 2026 event at Medinah was its 16th edition.
The 2026 Presidents Cup featured 30 matches across four days, including four-ball, foursomes and 12 Sunday singles matches. There is no traditional prize purse, while 2026 reporting said players, captains and assistant captains received $250,000 stipends. The Presidents Cup also says competitors allocate equal portions of event-generated funds to charities of their choice.
Clark’s exchange with Trump created an unexpected moment away from the competition. Donald Trump caught Wyndham Clark off guard with his golf knowledge, revealing what surprised the PGA Tour star during their conversation.
Do you think official height listings should be verified with a public measurement, or is a handshake photo just harmless fun? Share your view in the comments.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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