Presidents Cup hero Jacob Bridgeman joins President Trump on stage in South Carolina, leads Clemson chant
President Donald Trump has been a part of many Team USA golf events recently, making appearances at the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York and this September’s Presidents Cup in Illinois. On Wednesday, you could say Team USA returned the favor.
The President held a rally on the campus of Clemson University in South Carolina, and among the guest speakers was Jacob Bridgeman, the two-time PGA Tour winner who made the Presidents Cup clinching putt for the Americans in September.
Bridgeman, a South Carolina native who played collegiately at Clemson, was sure to join in on one of the Tigers’ fight songs before sharing supportive remarks for President Trump.
US pro-golfer Jacob Bridgeman shakes hands with US President Donald Trump during a campaign rally with at T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton, S.C. on October 21, 2026. (Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images)
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“I just thank President Donald Trump for having me here. It has been great to get to know him and to have him, as he mentioned, at the Presidents Cup, watching us have a pretty historic comeback on Sunday.
“And thank you to my captain, Brandt Snedeker, he had some good remarks for us after the round at the tournament for our President here, so thank you to him. Just glad to be here with you guys and proud to represent one of the best states in the country. I travel a lot, I travel 25 to 30 weeks a year, and every time I come home it feels like at home and there is no place I would rather be.
“Thank you for everyone who lives in this great state, and thank you for making it what it is, and thank you to the President for having me.”
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with professional golfer Jacob Bridgeman as he invites him on stage during a campaign rally at T. Ed Garrison Arena at Clemson University on October 21, 2026 in Pendleton, South Carolina. President Trump is in South Carolina rallying support for local Republican candidates. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Bridgeman, making his Presidents Cup debut, went 1-2-0 in the biennial event, with his win coming during Sunday’s singles matches against Min Woo Lee. The Americans faced a three-point deficit heading into the final day, but ultimately came away with a 17-13 victory.
As the former Clemson standout alluded to, Team USA captain Brandt Snedeker had some glowing remarks for President Trump after the team managed to pull off the comeback.
“One last shoutout: Donald Trump. President Trump. He told me, ‘I [am] going to bring energy today for you. You guys need it,'” Snedeker said on Sunday evening. “I told him if we did this, he gets all the credit. So, thank you, President Trump.”
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during the trophy ceremony after the U.S. Team wins 17-13 following the Sunday’s Singles on day four of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club on September 27, 2026 in Medinah, Ill. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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President Trump, an honorary chairman for the event, briefly addressed the crowd from the first tee before play began.
“You know, the fake news media will say I get a very bad reception,” Trump said as the crowd laughed. “But we get a good reception.
“[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 wanna see golf. They don’t wanna hear speeches.’ I’ll only say this: Our country is doing great, better than ever before.”
Since the event’s inception in 1994, the Americans have fallen to the International team just once in the Presidents Cup.
