President’s Cup Team USA Thanks Trump For Big Win

President Donald Trump promised to bring energy to an American team facing a daunting Sunday deficit at the Presidents Cup. By the time the trophy was presented, U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker had a historic victory to celebrate—and a presidential promise to acknowledge.

Team USA overwhelmed the International team at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago, turning a three-point disadvantage into a commanding 17-13 win. It was the largest final-day comeback in Presidents Cup history.

Afterward, Snedeker offered Trump a playful thank-you, recalling their conversation before the decisive singles session.

“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.

“I told him if we did this, he gets all the credit. So, thank you, President Trump.”

The Americans had entered Sunday trailing 10½-7½, the first time they had faced a deficit heading into the final session of a Presidents Cup on U.S. soil.

For three days, the heavily favored home team had struggled to overcome an International squad led by captain Geoff Ogilvy. The visitors built a 7-3 advantage by the end of Friday and protected a three-point cushion through Saturday.

With 12 singles matches remaining, the United States needed at least eight points to retain the trophy. The Americans delivered 9½, winning nine matches and halving another while allowing the International team just 2½ points.

The resulting seven-point advantage was the widest singles-session margin in the competition’s history.

Cameron Young supplied an early breakthrough, defeating Ryo Hisatsune 3-and-2. Justin Thomas and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler followed with victories that quickly eroded the International lead and changed the direction of the competition.

Wins from Chris Gotterup, Patrick Cantlay and Collin Morikawa kept the American charge moving. What had begun as an uphill fight to hold the trophy became an opportunity to complete a decisive turnaround.

Two Presidents Cup newcomers helped finish the job.

Jackson Koivun, the 21-year-old making his debut in the event, birdied the final hole to defeat Si Woo Kim 2-up. His victory brought the Americans to the brink of securing the cup.

The clinching moment belonged to fellow rookie Jacob Bridgeman.

Trailing Australia’s Min Woo Lee by one hole with three to play, Bridgeman fought back to reach the 18th with the match level. He then converted a four-foot putt for par, winning 1-up and ensuring that the trophy would stay with the United States.

“I think these guys never lost faith,” Snedeker said.

For the American captain, the setting gave Sunday’s result a significance beyond the score.

Snedeker had competed at Medinah during the 2012 Ryder Cup, when the United States lost a four-point Sunday lead as Europe completed the comeback remembered as the “Miracle at Medinah.”

Fourteen years later, he watched an American team produce its own final-day reversal on the same course, this time with him serving as captain.

“I told the guys last night that funny stuff happens here,” he said. “Medinah has a history of funny things happening.”

Trump’s appearance added a presidential backdrop to the dramatic finish.

Before he reached the course, Air Force One conducted a flyover. The president then addressed spectators from the first tee and greeted all 24 players ahead of the singles matches.

Serving as honorary chairman of the tournament, Trump remained at Medinah until play concluded and took part in the trophy presentation.

The PGA Tour had named him honorary chairman of the 2026 Presidents Cup, returning him to a role he previously held at the 2017 event at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey.

His Sunday visit coincided with a remarkable American resurgence, giving Snedeker the opportunity to make good on his lighthearted pledge to credit the president if the team pulled through.

The result extended a sustained period of U.S. dominance in the competition, although the Americans had to produce a record-setting finish to preserve it.

Established in 1994, the Presidents Cup matches a 12-man United States team against international players from outside Europe.

The Americans have now captured 11 consecutive editions and hold an overall record of 14 wins, one defeat and one tie.

At Medinah, that record briefly appeared in jeopardy. By Sunday evening, the United States had added another trophy—and Snedeker had replaced a painful memory of the course with a triumphant one.