President Donald Trump visited a rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina on Thursday for the second time in two weeks he held his state where opinion polls showed an unexpectedly close race between Republican Senator Darline Graham and Democrat Annie Andrews.
While some protesters as Trump spoke, the president also unexpectedly welcomed the Winthrop University men’s football team onto the stage.
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 29: President Donald Trump poses for a photo with members of the Winthrop University men’s golf club after inviting them on stage during a campaign rally at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center on October 29, 2026 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. President Trump is restoring support for Republican candidates in South Carolina ahead of next week’s midterm elections. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Trump also joked with the crowd to give the team a match.
“The team is doing good, huh?” Trump asked. “Well, I looked at them, and they interviewed me. I said, ‘Hey guys, look at the future of America.’ Nice, nice guys.’ So they were into whatever President Trump wants. He’s got America. He loves his country. I said, ‘Isn’t that nice? Really, isn’t it nice that you hear all the negative stuff?’
“This is going to happen. So go out and win the national championship. Cats, go out. Now we’re waiting for them to win the national championship, right?”
Winthrop is done with the fall schedule while playing at the recent Furman intercollegiate tournament near Greenville, South Carolina. The team tied for 8th place in a team field of 15 at Furman University Golf Course, with Mason Kucia and Andrew Gregory leading the way.
Tim Schmitt is the managing editor of Golfweek and coordinator of the USA Today Golf Network. Reuters contributed to this report.
This article first appeared in Golfweek: Donald Trump sneaks up on the college golf team, brings them on stage for the South Carolina rally