You probably saw the headlines or the clips of the "USA" chants, but being at Bethpage Black when Air Force One is practically idling down the road is a different beast entirely. Honestly, the Ryder Cup Trump appearance on Friday, September 26, 2025, wasn't just another celebrity sighting in a VIP tent. It was a massive, loud, and logistically chaotic collision of presidential politics and the most intense event in golf.
Bethpage is already known for having the rowdiest fans in the sport. Add a sitting president into that mix, and things get weird fast.
The First Tee Chaos and the Granddaughter Debut
The day started early. Really early. Like 5 a.m. early.
Fans were shelling out $750 for ground tickets, only to find themselves stuck in TSA-style security lines that stretched toward the horizon. Because of the high-profile visit, the PGA of America had to implement "frozen spaces." Basically, if you were in the wrong spot when the motorcade moved, you weren't moving at all.
Donald Trump didn't actually show up for the very first morning drives. He landed at Republic Airport around 11 a.m. and made his grand entrance closer to noon, just as the afternoon four-ball matches were heating up.
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He wasn't alone, though. He brought along his granddaughter, Kai Trump. You might recognize her—she’s the 18-year-old standout golfer headed to the University of Miami. She was sporting a white sweatshirt from her own new clothing line, which had literally launched on Instagram the day before.
"The team is not doing so well. So when I heard that, I said, 'Let's go on the plane, we have to try and help them!'"
That was Trump’s line to reporters right after he touched down. He wasn’t wrong; Team USA had stumbled out of the gate, trailing 1-3 after the morning session.
Why the Spiked Shoes Mattered
One detail people kept pointing out was the footwear. Trump didn't show up in a suit and dress shoes. He was wearing white spiked golf shoes. It was a subtle signal: he wasn't just there to wave; he was there to walk the grass.
He stood on the first tee as a local firefighter belted out the national anthem. Then came the flyover—four military jets screaming over the Long Island pine trees. If the atmosphere wasn't "New York" enough, that sealed it.
The Players' Reaction: Honored or Unfazed?
The locker room was divided, but mostly in a "let's focus on the golf" kind of way. U.S. Captain Keegan Bradley was vocal about it. He said he was "deeply honored" to have the president there. For a guy like Bradley, who thrives on the energy of a home crowd, having that level of backup on home soil was a massive adrenaline shot.
Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau were also clearly leaning into the moment. DeChambeau, who’s done YouTube collaborations with Trump in the past, got a fist-bump at the entrance to the tunnel. J.J. Spaun even broke out the "Trump dance" for a few seconds on the green.
On the other side? Not everyone was impressed.
- Robert MacIntyre (Team Europe) famously called him "just another spectator."
- Rory McIlroy was seen shaking hands, but the Europeans generally treated the visit as a "mark of respect" for the event rather than a political endorsement.
- Justin Rose joked that Trump should come back on Sunday to congratulate the Europeans if they won. (Spoiler: They eventually did win 15-13, but the Friday energy was all USA).
Logistics: A Nightmare for the Average Fan
If you were a fan trying to get a beer or use the restroom when the president moved, you were out of luck. The security mobilization was intense. We’re talking Nassau County police, State Police, and Secret Service snipers on the clubhouse roof.
The PGA of America had to ban everything. No rangefinders. No laptops. No tablets. Even the large "torch-style" lighters were confiscated.
Many fans missed the opening shots of the day because the security checkpoints were so backed up. It created a weird vibe where half the crowd was chanting "USA" while the other half was arguing with tournament staff about why the shuttle buses weren't moving.
The Significance of the Ryder Cup Trump Appearance
This was actually a historic moment. While presidents often host winners at the White House, Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend the Ryder Cup in its nearly 100-year history.
It also signaled a total "thaw" in his relationship with the PGA of America. Remember, this is the same organization that stripped him of the 2022 PGA Championship at Bedminster. Seeing CEO Derek Sprague and the President in the same vicinity at Bethpage felt like the golf world finally deciding that the sport is too small for permanent grudges.
Actionable Insights for Golf Fans
If you're planning on attending a major sporting event where a sitting president or high-level official is expected, here is how you survive it:
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- Arrival is Everything: At Bethpage, the gates opened at 5 a.m. Those who arrived at 4:30 a.m. made it in. Those who arrived at 7 a.m. missed the first two hours of golf. Always add three hours to your expected travel time.
- Check the Restricted List Twice: In 2025, they banned rangefinders specifically for the Friday session. Usually, these are allowed. Presidential security overrides standard tournament rules.
- The "Frozen Zone" Strategy: If a motorcade is coming, the security will "freeze" sections of the course. If you see Secret Service activity, stay near a leaderboard or a concession stand—don't try to cross the fairway, or you'll be stuck behind a rope for 45 minutes.
- Public Transit over Parking: The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to Farmingdale was the only reliable way to get to the 2025 event. Traffic on Hempstead Turnpike was a literal standstill.
The Ryder Cup Trump appearance didn't ultimately save Team USA from a Sunday defeat, but it turned Friday into one of the loudest days in the history of the Black Course. Whether you loved it or hated it, you couldn't look away.