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Eric Trump called Rory McIlroy his “friend” and expressed his gratitude for the golfer’s support of the Trump family.
“Rory’s become a friend. And frankly, I’d say without Rory’s support, I’m not even sure if we’d have it here,” Eric, 42, said of McIlroy, 36, backing the decision for the Irish Open to take place at President Donald Trump’s golf course in Doonbeg, County Clare, Ireland, in an interview with The Belfast Telegraph published on Sunday, January 25.
Eric added that he promised McIlroy that Doonbeg would host “the best Irish Open that Ireland has ever seen.” Eric shared that his father, 79, plans on attending the three-day event, scheduled to take place from September 10 to 13.
“I think he’s gonna be here,” Eric said of the president. “He really wants to be here — and I know Rory definitely wants him here.”
Eric also shared that McIlroy has formed a close bond with him and the whole Trump family.
“Rory has been super supportive of the family,” Eric told the outlet. “I was just with him two weeks ago. He played at Trump Jupiter.”
Earlier this month, Kai Trump — the daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump — spent some time on the golf course with McIlroy. (Kai, 18, is currently an amateur golfer who has committed to play for the University of Miami’s women’s golf team this year.)
“Best way to start the year,” Kai captioned a snap of her and the pro golf champion via Instagram.
Last year, McIlroy played a round of golf with the president, an avid golfer and fan of the sport. Following the outing, McIlroy spoke to the media regarding what he believes to be the Commander-in-Chief’s stance on the PGA over the growing popularity of LIV golf.
“I was like, but you’ve hosted their events,” McIlroy said of Trump’s opinion of LIV golf in February 2025. “He was like, ‘Yeah, but it doesn’t mean that I like it.’ So I think he’s on the tour’s side.”
Months later, the golfers of Team Europe — which included McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm — had a message for Donald after beating Team USA at the 2025 Ryder Cup.
“Are you watching? Are you watching? Are you watching? Are you watching, Donald Trump? Are you watching Donald Trump?” the group sang in while taking in their victory with the trophy during the September 2025 event.
Donald, who attended a portion of the Ryder Cup at Farmingdale, New York’s, Bethpage Black Golf Course, responded via social media.
“Yes, I’m watching. Congratulations!” he wrote via his Truth Social app.
The golfers’ decision to shout out Donald came after McIlroy got a message from the president, according to the team’s captain, Luke Donald.
“We were having a moment together with the team, and Rory got a text from the president,” the Team Europe captain told the BBC. “We read it out and thought [we’d have] a little bit of banter [with him]. He seemed to take it in good spirits.”
