Trump’s weekend of sport continues as he fist pumps to chants of ‘USA’ at Presidents Cup in Chicago… before making joke about cutting his ’15-minute speech’ short
Donald Trump continued his whirlwind weekend of sport on Sunday, pumping his fists to chants of ‘USA!’ at the Presidents Cup in Illinois.
Fresh off watching Texas edge Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, the president arrived at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago for the tournament’s final day.
Trump, who is serving as honorary chairman of the event for the second time, drew roaring applause from packed grandstands as he made his way out.
Dressed in a dark suit and red tie, Trump smiled, pumped his fists, and blew kisses to the raucous crowd as spectators broke out into deafening chants of ‘USA! USA!’
Taking to the microphone ahead of the Sunday singles matches, Trump poked fun at reports that he had requested a 15-minute speech window from the PGA Tour.
‘You know, the fake news media will say I got a very bad reception. We got a good reception!’ Trump told the cheering gallery.
Donald Trump continued his whirlwind weekend of sport on Sunday at the Presidents Cup
The president arrived at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago for the tournament’s final day
‘He [PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp] said, could you make a short speech? 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’ll only say this: Our country is doing great, better than ever before.’
His Sunday arrival brought enhanced security measures across Medinah, with gates opening at 8 a.m. as the Secret Service implemented tight restrictions.
The lighthearted quip came after Golfweek reported on Saturday that Trump had asked organizers for 15 minutes to address the crowd before the start of play.
Trump stepped aside quickly to let the action begin, as Brandt Snedeker’s U.S. squad looked to battle back from a 10.5 – 7.5 deficit against Geoff Ogilvy’s International team.
Trump is slated to take in the Sunday singles before returning to the White House later in the evening, with the president also expected to play a role in the closing trophy presentation.
The golf appearance marked Trump’s second major sporting spectacle in less than 24 hours.
On Saturday, Trump drew a massive ovation at Neyland Stadium when he appeared on the jumbotron alongside Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn during the Longhorns’ 20-17 victory.
Dressed in a dark suit and red tie, the president acknowledged the thunderous ovation by smiling and repeatedly pumping his fist from inside a luxury suite.
Taking to the microphone ahead of the Sunday singles matches, Trump poked fun at reports that he had requested a 15-minute speech window from the PGA Tour
Trump smiled, pumped his fists, and blew kisses to the raucous crowd on Sunday
His trip comes fresh off watching Texas edge Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday
He was seated alongside prominent political ally and Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, who was sporting bright Volunteer orange for the occasion.
His arrival capped off an electric pre-game buildup that began in the skies over Knoxville, when Air Force One treated fans to a flyover above Neyland Stadium.
During his trip, Trump bore witness to Texas star Colin Simmons pulling off a bizarre ‘peeing’ celebration during their SEC battle against Tennessee.
Simmons broke into the backfield to sack Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon on third down, which should have forced a fourth-and-29.
Instead, the junior star stood over Brandon and pretended to urinate on the field, immediately drawing a yellow flag from the officiating crew for his antics.
The referee then took to the stadium microphone to announce an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for ‘simulating using the restroom’, thus wiping out the stop.
