A Short Speech, a Loud Crowd
Anyone expecting a long address at Medinah came away surprised. Trump took the first tee in his role as honorary chairman of the Presidents Cup, and word had spread beforehand that he'd asked for a 15-minute slot before play began. What the crowd got was well under a minute.
He told the crowd the country was doing better than ever and that he was looking forward to watching the world's best golfers give it everything they had. He called it a "very interesting day of golf," then thanked everyone and told them he loved them.
The reaction was split. Applause and boos rolled through the gallery together, and during a pause in his remarks one spectator yelled "you suck" loud enough to be heard.
Fans Rush the Rope Line
The scene was busy well before Trump said a word. When he came down from the grandstands beside the first tee, fans pressed forward for a closer look. Secret Service agents kept asking people to move back behind the Rolex clock, which served as an unofficial boundary.
Trump stopped to wave at the crowd. Some in the gallery were plainly excited. "That's just insane," one attendee said, adding that they had never seen him in person before. Another fan shouted, asking him to sign a jersey, and a person nearby joked that he'd be coming over with a Sharpie any second.
An Awkward Moment on the Tee
Not everything went smoothly. Trump had an uncomfortable exchange with the wife of one of the golfers after leaning in to kiss her.
After his brief time at the microphone, he didn't leave. He stayed near the first tee and personally greeted each player as they stepped up to start their round.
Another Big Sporting Stop for Trump
The Chicago appearance follows another high-profile sports outing. Trump recently went to Neyland Stadium to watch Tennessee play Texas in a heated college football matchup, and his attendance created major logistical headaches there.
Between that game and the Presidents Cup, he has been a visible presence at some of the year's biggest sporting events, and each appearance has drawn strong reactions from the crowd.
Comments
Post a Comment