Trump says granddaughter Kai’s golf team is safe while warning of 'deep trouble' for college sports

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump hosted a roundtable meeting at the White House to discuss what he described as the need to protect and “save college sports.” He warned that the future of women’s athletics could face serious challenges. While talking about the issue, Trump made a light-hearted remark about his granddaughter, Kai Trump. 

He joked that even though women’s sports may be in trouble, one place might remain safe, the Miami Hurricanes women's golf team, where she trains and plays golf. Trump said, “That’s Miami, where I have my granddaughter on the team,” and then added, “I’m just kidding,” to keep the mood relaxed.

Trump also criticized men’s football programs and urged lawmakers to act quickly. He warned that if Congress does not move fast, the situation could damage college athletics and harm universities that depend on sports programs.

He argued that it has grown into a serious challenge that could threaten the future of both college sports and the institutions that support them.

Trump mentions Kai while speaking about challenges facing women’s sports

Trump said the meeting was aimed at addressing what he sees as growing challenges in college athletics and finding ways to “save” the system. During the discussion, he argued that large financial deals for football players are reshaping college sports and could eventually threaten “the future of colleges” that depend on athletic programs.

While warning that women’s sports are facing serious challenges, Trump brought up his granddaughter, Kai, and her team, the Miami Hurricanes women’s golf program at the University of Miami, as a light-hearted exception.

“Women's sports are being canceled all over the country, just so we understand. Women's sports are in deep trouble. Other than one particular woman's team. That's Miami, where I have my granddaughter on the team."

He continued, "They canceled men's golf, but women's golf is doing just fine. I'm only kidding. I'm only kidding. But they are canceling golf, they're canceling wrestling, they're canceling fencing, they canceling even basketball. I thought that would be maybe immune, but it's in trouble.”

Trump also spoke about what he called “special dangers for women's sports and our Olympic pipeline.”

Women’s college sports continue to grow despite some program cuts

Kai Trump has committed to join the Miami Hurricanes women’s golf program at the University of Miami. In recent months, some women’s college programs have been cut at certain schools, including the gymnastics team at Iowa State University.

Even with a few programs facing closures, women’s sports overall continue to grow rapidly. In the 2024–25 academic year, more than 242,000 athletes competed in NCAA women’s championships and emerging sports. That total is about 14 percent higher than it was a decade ago.

Fan interest has also expanded significantly. Viewers in the US spent around 46 billion minutes watching women’s sports in 2025. Basketball has been one of the fastest-growing areas.

Women’s college basketball drew an average of about 280,000 viewers during the 2024–25 season, the highest in nearly 20 years. The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament also became the third most-watched tournament in its history, as per Mirror.