PALM BEACH, FL – January 1, 2026 – Former President Donald Trump, owner of several championship golf courses and a fixture at major tournaments, kicked off the new year with a bold proclamation aimed at the world of professional golf. In a statement released from his Mar-a-Lago club, Trump declared that a key resolution for 2026 is to “uncover the cheaters” in the 2025 Ryder Cup, reigniting controversy around the United States’ stunning loss to Europe last September.
The 2025 matches, held at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey, ended in a dramatic 15-13 victory for the European squad, marking their second consecutive win. The competition was fiercely contested, with several rulings by officials coming under scrutiny during the event. While no formal allegations of cheating were lodged by the U.S. team or the PGA of America at the time, whispers of gamesmanship and questionable interpretations of rules persisted in some golf circles.
Trump, who was a highly visible spectator throughout the event, has now brought those whispers to the forefront.
“The 2025 Ryder Cup at my beautiful Bedminster course was rigged and stolen, just like the 2020 Election,” Trump’s statement began. “I watched as our magnificent American players were targeted and victimized by blatant cheating from the European side, aided and abetted by corrupt officials. As my New Year’s resolution to the great sports fans of this country, we will uncover the cheaters and expose the truth. Make Golf Great Again!”
The statement did not provide specific evidence or name individual players or officials. It also did not clarify the mechanism for this proposed investigation, which lacks any formal authority within the governance of the Ryder Cup, a joint venture between the PGA of America and Europe’s DP World Tour.
Reaction from the golf world has been swift and mixed.
The PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe issued a joint, terse response: “The 2025 Ryder Cup was conducted under the highest standards of sportsmanship and integrity. The results, as confirmed by all players, captains, and official referees, are final and legitimate.”
Several members of the U.S. team, speaking anonymously to avoid public entanglement, expressed bewilderment. One player stated, “It was a tough loss on a tough course. They outplayed us in the singles. I didn’t see any cheating.”
European captain Rory McIlroy, when reached for comment, laughed and said, “I resolve to break 70 more often in 2026. Happy New Year, everyone.”
Political analysts view the move as a classic Trump tactic, injecting himself into a high-profile narrative of perceived injustice to galvanize his base. Sports ethicists, however, are concerned.
“This is dangerously frivolous,” said Dr. Anya Berger of the Center for Sports Ethics. “To baselessly accuse athletes of cheating at one of the sport’s most hallowed events, without a shred of formal proof, undermines the very spirit of golf. It’s not a resolution; it’s a spectacle.”
Whether Trump’s “investigation” will materialize as anything more than rhetorical flourish remains to be seen. However, his vow ensures that the echoes of the 2025 Ryder Cup will continue to be heard, transforming from a debate about golf strategy into yet another polarized cultural and political talking point as the 2026 election cycle begins to take shape.