President Trump received a massive ovation from spectators at the LIV Golf New York event at his Bedminster, New Jersey, club, the latest sign of his enduring popularity even as the upstart golf league charts a new financial course after Saudi Arabia pulled its funding.
Trump drove a golf cart along the course at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster over the weekend, and the crowd response was unmistakable. Fans lined the fairways and greeted the president with sustained cheers as he made his way through the venue, OutKick reported, citing the New York Post's account of a "big ovation."
The appearance marked the third time LIV Golf has held an event at one of Trump's golf properties. Trump attended at least one prior LIV event at his clubs, but this weekend's reception stood out for its energy, coming at a moment when LIV Golf itself is navigating a major transition away from its original Saudi backers.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund, which had been LIV Golf's sole funder since the league launched, announced in April that it would no longer bankroll the tour. That decision raised immediate questions about whether LIV Golf could survive beyond 2026. Without a replacement, the league faced an existential threat.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil moved to quiet those concerns this week. O'Neil announced that the league has secured an agreement with a new lead investor, though the identity of that investor remains undisclosed.
O'Neil framed the deal as a turning point:
"LIV Golf has an agreement in place with a lead investor, signed by the investor and approved by the Board, to anchor the transaction and play a key role in supporting the path forward for the League's next era, driven by and for the players."
The statement leaves several questions unanswered. The deal's financial terms have not been disclosed. Whether the agreement has formally closed or remains pending is unclear. And without a name attached to the investor, outsiders have no way to evaluate the new backer's depth or long-term commitment.
Still, the fact that LIV Golf staged a full-scale event at Bedminster this weekend, with the sitting president in attendance, suggests the league is operating with enough confidence, and enough cash, to keep the lights on for now. A president known for his willingness to back ventures and people he believes in was not about to let his club sit idle while the league sorted out its finances.
Trump National Golf Club Bedminster is no stranger to elite competition. The Tom Fazio-designed championship course has hosted the U.S. Women's Open and multiple LIV Golf events. Its deep bunkers and water hazards make it one of the more demanding layouts on any professional tour's calendar.
Trump himself has demonstrated he can play the course. He recently won the Senior Division of the Bedminster club championship, shooting a 2-under-par 70 on the same layout that challenges touring professionals. He claimed the victory was his 40th club championship title.
The president was characteristically blunt about the achievement, posting on Truth Social that he won despite having "very little time to practice, because I'm focused on many other things." He added: "It's called TALENT, and I have it, and they don't!"
That kind of competitive edge, and the willingness to show up and put his name on things, is a pattern. Whether it is backing candidates in contested Senate runoffs or lending his property to a golf league that the establishment tried to bury, Trump keeps choosing engagement over caution.
The Bedminster ovation fits a broader picture. Trump has maintained a visible public schedule even while managing the demands of the presidency. He skipped his own son's wedding in the Bahamas earlier this year to stay at the White House and attend to government duties, a decision that underscored where his priorities sit.
Meanwhile, his administration has continued to rack up results on other fronts. First Lady Melania Trump brokered a fifth round of child reunifications between Russia and Ukraine, a diplomatic achievement that drew little mainstream media attention.
None of that context was lost on the crowd at Bedminster. When the president rolled through in a golf cart, they responded the way Americans tend to respond when they see a leader who does not hide from public life or apologize for enjoying it.
LIV Golf's future remains uncertain. The unnamed investor, the undisclosed deal terms, and the loss of Saudi funding all represent real risks. But the league chose Trump's club for a reason, and the crowd gave both the tour and the president exactly the reception the moment called for.
Washington's permanent class may never warm to Trump. The people who actually show up keep making their feelings clear.