Prominent Clemson sports alum makes appearance at Trump’s SC rally. What he said

A prominent former Clemson athlete was among the speakers at President Donald Trump’s midterm rally in Upstate South Carolina on Wednesday.

Read more Prominent Clemson sports alum makes appearance at Trump’s SC rally. What he said

Former Tigers men’s golfer Jacob Bridgeman, who now competes professionally on the PGA Tour, joined Trump on stage and addressed the crowd for roughly two minutes during Trump’s rally at T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton.

Bridgeman, 26, was a three-time All American at Clemson, where he golfed from 2018-22. On Sept. 28, he hit a clinching putt to secure Team USA’s comeback win the 2026 President Cup, a four-day golf event that pits a team of American golfers against an international team. Trump attended that event.

About 90 minutes into Trump’s Wednesday rally, he welcomed Bridgeman to the stage, describing him as a “very special” golfer who made a “hell of a” putt.

As Bridgeman walked to the podium, Clemson supporters in the audience cheered and sang a portion of the university’s fight song “Tiger Rag.”

Bridgeman, an Inman native and Chapman High School graduate who now lives in Greenville, said it was a “great honor to be here with you guys in … my home state.”

Bridgeman also made a subtle jab at Clemson’s in-state rival, South Carolina.

“I attended the best university in the state, Clemson,” he said, drawing cheers.

Jacob Bridgeman in the Presidents Cup

Last month, Bridgeman became only the second Clemson men’s golfer to compete in the Presidents Cup (Lucas Glover). Team USA trailed the International Team entering the final day of the event at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago before going 9-2-1 in its final 12 singles matches on Sept. 28 to clinch a comeback win.

“I just thank President Donald Trump for having me here,” Bridgeman said. “It’s been great to get to know him and to have him, as he mentioned, at the Presidents Cup, watching us have a pretty historic comeback.”

Bridgeman said Team USA captain Brandt Snedeker had some “good remarks … after the round, after the tournament, for our president here, so thank you to him.”

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Snedeker credited Trump after Team USA’s comeback win in the event. Trump attended the final day of the President Cup and served as honorary chairman.

“He (Trump) told me I was going to bring some energy today for you guys, you guys need it, and I told him if we did this, he gets all the credit,” Snedeker said.

Bridgeman currently ranks as the No. 16 golfer in the world and has picked up his first two PGA Tour event wins this season, finishing first at The Genesis Invitational outside Los Angeles and at The Biltmore Championship Asheville.

Bridgeman finished his remarks by describing South Carolina as a “great state” that always feels like home.

“There’s no place I’d rather be,” he said.

Trump’s SC rally draws supporters and protesters

Trump’s rally was intended to drum up support for state Republican candidates, mainly US Sen. Darline Graham, the sister of late US Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Roughly 4,000 people attended the rally at T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton, about four miles from Clemson’s campus. The arena primarily hosts livestock events and is operated by Clemson University’s Cooperative Extension Service.

The event was interrupted by protesters nine times, The State reported.

Trump has a bit of a history with Clemson athletics: He welcomed coach Dabo Swinney and the football team to the White House in Washington, D.C. following their 2016 and 2018 national championship wins, famously serving the Tigers a massive spread of McDonald’s and other fast food items on their second visit.

Outside of Bridgeman’s appearance, though, no other Clemson-related guests spoke and Trump made no other Clemson-related comments during his roughly one hour, 40 minute appearance in the Upstate.

The early voting period in South Carolina runs through Oct. 31, and midterm election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

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