On September 26, 2025, the usually staid greens of Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, were electrified by more than just world-class golf. Former President Donald Trump, now 79, made a high-profile appearance at the Ryder Cup, bringing with him not only a wave of heightened security but also his 18-year-old granddaughter, Kai Trump, who is rapidly emerging as a Gen Z influencer and entrepreneur. Their arrival, style choices, and the swirl of events around them offered a revealing snapshot of the intersection between politics, celebrity, and youth culture in America today.
Trump’s entrance was anything but understated. According to the Daily Mail, he boarded Marine One from the White House lawn at around 10 a.m. ET, landing at Bethpage just over an hour later. Sporting his signature suit paired with white golf shoes, Trump embodied the role of both statesman and golf enthusiast. His granddaughter Kai, meanwhile, opted for a more casual look: black jeans, sneakers, and a white sweatshirt emblazoned with her initials in blue and red—a piece from her newly launched clothing collection. The two watched the matches from a shielded perspex glass box near the first tee, a precaution underscored by the presence of snipers, TSA-level security checkpoints, and bomb-sniffing dogs. The security was so tight that even medical personnel faced delays entering restricted areas, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The event itself was a dramatic one for Team USA, who endured a tough morning session, trailing Europe 3-1. Yet, the American captain, Keegan Bradley, remained optimistic, telling USA Network, “We've just had the President fly over on Air Force One, I have a feeling things are about to turn here.” Trump’s presence was greeted with raucous chants of “USA,” and Bradley even performed the so-called “Trump dance” on the first tee, a gesture that’s become a staple of Trump’s public appearances. For a brief moment, Trump left his glass box to accompany golfer Bryson DeChambeau to the tee, further energizing the crowd.
But it wasn’t just Trump’s public persona or the security spectacle that drew attention. Kai Trump, his eldest grandchild and the daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump, was there not only as family but as a burgeoning celebrity in her own right. According to Slate, Kai has been steadily building a personal brand since 2024, marked by her speech at the Republican National Convention, a growing social media presence, and now, a foray into fashion with her own line of sweatshirts. Her TikTok account boasts 3.3 million followers, while her Instagram and YouTube channels have amassed 1.9 million and 1.2 million followers, respectively, as of September 2025.
Kai’s sweatshirt collection—which made its debut at the Ryder Cup and in promotional photos taken at the White House—features a K-on-top-of-a-T logo and retails for $130 each. As CTV News confirmed, the launch included a photo shoot on White House grounds, a move that in earlier eras might have sparked controversy but now seems to be par for the course in the Trump family’s blending of politics, business, and personal branding. In her Instagram announcement last year, Kai expressed gratitude to her grandfather, writing, “I would like to thank my Grandpa for giving me access to great courses and tremendous support.”
Her path to influencer status has not been accidental. As Slate observed, “Kai Trump was laying the groundwork to become an influencer and the Trump family’s special Gen Z envoy.” Her content ranges from vlogs about election night and rocket launches to everyday teenage experiences, such as trying every drink at Starbucks or getting her wisdom teeth removed. She uses Gen Z slang and occasionally pokes fun at her father, presenting herself as both relatable and unattached to the more controversial aspects of her family’s political legacy. Notably, Kai has largely avoided overtly political statements, instead cultivating an image of a “normal grandpa’s” granddaughter—an approach that may broaden her appeal to young audiences wary of divisive rhetoric.
Still, the launch of her clothing brand from the White House raised eyebrows. Critics, as highlighted by Slate, noted the “ludicrous line of $130 sweatshirts” and questioned the design choices, manufacturing origins, and the optics of using the White House as a backdrop for personal enterprise. Yet, the move is in keeping with the Trump family’s tradition of capitalizing on their name and platform. “Slapping the Trump name on stuff and selling it is a time-honored family tradition, and Kai is proving that she’s a Trump through and through,” Slate remarked.
Kai’s ambitions extend beyond fashion. She is also an accomplished golfer, set to play at the University of Miami in 2026, and has already attracted considerable attention from sponsors and endorsement deals, reportedly totaling $1.2 million according to The Washington Post (as cited by Slate). Her dual pursuits in athletics and entrepreneurship position her as a unique figure among the Trump grandchildren—and perhaps as a new kind of public figure for her generation.
The Ryder Cup itself, meanwhile, was a microcosm of the current American zeitgeist: celebrity, politics, and spectacle all rolled into one. The event’s already high security was ratcheted up in light of recent events, including the assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, and the recent fatal shooting of political ally Charlie Kirk. The presence of drones, bomb-disposal dogs, and chemical, biological, and radiological units underscored the seriousness with which authorities approached the day. Even everyday items such as range finders, folding chairs, and umbrellas faced restrictions, with ponchos “strongly encouraged” for spectators.
Trump’s appearance at Bethpage was just the latest in a series of high-profile outings since his return to the White House, including a recent address to the United Nations and an appearance at a New York Yankees game. His willingness to step back into the limelight, even in the face of personal and political threats, signals an ongoing commitment to public life—and, perhaps, to shaping the next generation of Trumps for the spotlight as well.
As the sun set on Bethpage, Team USA was still fighting to recover from a tough start, and the spectacle of Trump and his granddaughter lingered in the minds of many. For some, it was a sign of the enduring power of celebrity in American politics; for others, a glimpse of how the Trump family continues to blend personal ambition with public pageantry. Either way, the Ryder Cup was about more than golf this year—it was about legacy, influence, and the evolving face of American fame.
