Ryder Cup winner Luke Donald shares Trump’s text to Rory McIlroy that sparked viral video

Rory McIlroy received a text from Donald Trump moments before Team Europe’s viral video of the team chanting ‘Are you watching, Donald Trump?’

Rory McIlroy was sent a message from Donald Trump, which sparked the now-legendary clip of Team Europe having a laugh at the US President’s expense after winning the Ryder Cup.

During the jubilant scenes following Europe’s 15-13 triumph over Team USA, the squad, spearheaded by Rory McIlroy, filmed themselves bellowing ‘Are you watching, Donald Trump?’

The US President, who had graced the opening day of the Ryder Cup with his presence, saw the funny side and shared the footage on his Truth Social platform moments later.

“Yes, I’m watching. Congratulations!” Trump responded. European skipper Luke Donald has now disclosed that the clip only materialised because the US President had messaged Rory McIlroy directly.

Chatting to BBC Sport, he explained: “We were just in our dressing room after our press conference, just having a moment together with the team, and Rory was there, and he got a text from the President, while we were in there.

“He read it out, and we thought, for a little bit of banter, we’ll send a friendly video of the chant that was going around that Ryder Cup. I’m glad he liked it and glad he enjoyed it.”

USA captain Keegan Bradley had welcomed Trump on Friday with a bow, and hasn’t held back in expressing his political views. “It was great,” Bradley reflected.

He added: “That was genuinely a brilliant experience. Witnessing a sitting President at the grounds of a Ryder Cup or at a golf tournament, what an incredible moment. The Air Force One flyover, I’ll never forget that for the rest of my life.”

However, Bradley was less pleased after the weekend’s events. “This is no one’s fault but mine,” the American confessed.

“When you are the leader of the team and you’re the coach, the captain – whatever you want to call it – and you lose, you have to take the blame.

“This is no one else’s fault. Sometimes in sports, you go up against an opponent that sometimes beats you; they play better. And they [Europe] played better than us. We gave it a great fight, that’s for sure.”