Donald Trump has accepted a second stint as Honorary Chairman of the 2026 Presidents Cup.
Trump, 80, will serve in the ceremonial role for the PGA Tour tournament this September 22-27 at Medinah Country Club in Chicago, Illinois, the former president announced on Truth Social. He previously held the same position during his first term in 2017, making him only the second person to do so twice alongside Barack Obama.
“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 wrote on Truth Social.
“This will be a particularly exciting event. Both teams are ‘loaded’ with Talent. I look forward to being there, and greeting all of these fantastic athletes, on both teams! Thank you for your attention to this matter. See you in Chicago! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The 2026 competition pits a 12-player American squad captained by Brandt Snedeker against an international team led by Australian Geoff Ogilvy. The biennial event has historically favored the United States, which holds an overall record of 12-1-1 since the tournament’s inception in 1994.
Despite that dominance, some sports fans on social media have seized on Trump’s recent track record at sporting events to predict disaster for the home team. The anxiety centers on a perceived pattern of losses by teams and events associated with his presence.
Last June, Trump watched from the crowd at Madison Square Garden as the New York Knicks dropped their only NBA Finals defeat. In November 2025, he witnessed the Washington Commanders fall 44-22 to the Detroit Lions. His appearance at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York the previous year also coincided with a rough American start, as the US squad lost three of their first four team matches to Europe.
Those results have fueled a wave of superstitious commentary online since the Presidents Cup announcement.
“First US loss incoming, you saw what happened at Bethpage,” one user posted on X.
Another added: “So international team has a really good chance at winning now.”
A third predicted “a guaranteed USA loss” for September, while dozens more echoed similar sentiments. “For the first time in decades, the USA will lose. Everything he touches dies,” another user wrote.
The 2017 Presidents Cup, held at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey during Trump’s first term, ended with a decisive 19-11 American victory. That result stands in contrast to the recent losses that have animated online speculation about a so-called “Trump curse.”
The 2026 tournament at Medinah marks the first time the Presidents Cup will be held in the Chicago area. The historic club, located in the western suburb of Medinah, has previously hosted multiple major championships including three U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships.
Trump’s golf connections run deep beyond this ceremonial role. He owns multiple golf properties and has frequently played the sport throughout his political career, drawing both criticism and fascination for the hours spent on his courses during and after his presidency.
The PGA Tour’s selection of Honorary Chairman has historically drawn sitting or former presidents, with Joe Biden and Obama among previous holders of the position. The role typically involves ceremonial duties and public appearances promoting the event rather than competitive or organizational decision-making.
The international team will be looking for its second-ever Presidents Cup victory, having broken through with a 16-14 win in Melbourne, Australia in 1998. The American squad has won every edition since, with the 2003 event in South Africa ending in a tie.
The 2026 Presidents Cup runs September 22-27 at Medinah Country Club in Chicago.