Kai Trump undergoes stem cell treatment after reinjuring wrist during college golf debut

Kai Trump injured her wrist after hitting the ground near a cart path, with pain worsening when she used her driver on the 10th hole
Kai Trump completed all three rounds despite wrist pain, finishing tied for 102nd among 120 golfers in her University of Miami debut (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Kai Trump completed all three rounds despite wrist pain, finishing tied for 102nd among 120 golfers in her University of Miami debut (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

MIAMI, FLORIDA: Kai Trump is undergoing stem cell treatment after reinjuring her wrist during her college golf debut for the University of Miami.

The 19-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump suffered the setback at South Carolina’s Golfweek Fall Challenge, raising concerns that she might need another surgery.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 15: Kai Trump attends the 2026 ESPY Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on July 15, 2026 in New York City.  (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Kai Trump attends the 2026 ESPY Awards at David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on July 15, 2026 in New York City (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Kai Trump reinjures wrist during college golf debut

Kai injured her wrist after striking the ground near a cart path at Caledonia Golf and Fish Club. Recalling the incident, she said, “Let’s just say there must have been some cart path underneath that ground because it was very hard.”

She continued playing, but the pain intensified when she used her driver on the 10th hole.

LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: Kai Trump watches her shot on the ninth hole prior to The Genesis Invitational 2025 at Torrey Pines Golf Course on February 12, 2025 in La Jolla, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Kai Trump watches her shot on the ninth hole prior to The Genesis Invitational 2025 at Torrey Pines Golf Course on February 12, 2025 in La Jolla, California (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

“Then on the tenth hole, I hit my driver, and I felt like I tore it again,” she said. The injury was concerning because Kai had undergone wrist surgery earlier this year.

The procedure addressed damage to her triangular fibrocartilage complex and the stabilizing tissues surrounding the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon.

Kai Trump undergoes stem cell treatment

After the tournament, testing showed that Kai had not completely torn the repaired area. She described the damage as a “little sliver” involving cartilage and ligaments inside her wrist.

The findings meant she could avoid another operation. Instead, Kai received stem cell injections from pain management specialist Dr Jeffrey Weigers.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by his granddaughter Kai Trump, departs the White House on September 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. Under pressure from Trump, the DOJ indicted former FBI Director James Comey on counts of making false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding related to the September 2020 Russia investigation. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump, joined by his granddaughter Kai Trump, departs the White House on September 26, 2025 in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Her video identified the treatment as Dezawa MuseCells.

Despite the pain, Kai completed all three rounds of the tournament, finishing tied for 102nd among 120 competitors.

The setback comes as she adjusts to collegiate golf after committing to the University of Miami in 2024. Coach Janice Olivencia previously praised Kai, saying she would bring energy and excitement to the team.

Kai Trump’s golf career before Miami

Kai, the eldest child of Donald Trump Jr and Vanessa Trump, built her reputation as a junior golfer before joining Miami.

She won club championships at Trump International Palm Beach and made her LPGA Tour debut last November, becoming the youngest player in that tournament’s field.

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 26: U.S. President Donald Trump, along with his granddaughter Kai Madison Trump, attends the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. In his second term, Trump has attended several major sporting events.  (Photo by Mandel Ngan-Pool/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump, along with his granddaughter Kai Madison Trump, attends the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York (Mandel Ngan-Pool/Getty Images)

She also drew national attention after speaking about her grandfather at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Starting college has brought personal changes, too. Kai previously spoke about leaving her home in Jupiter, Florida, and saying goodbye to family and friends.

“I’m not a very emotional person at all, so this is like really weird for me to cry,” she said. Kai’s recovery could give her time to return during Miami’s fall season.

The Hurricanes are scheduled to compete at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational, beginning October 16 in North Carolina.

She will need to monitor how her wrist responds to treatment and whether she can swing without renewed pain before returning to competition.

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