The University of Miami announced on November 12, 2025, that Kai Trump, the 18-year-old granddaughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has officially joined its women's golf recruiting class as part of the NCAA Division I early signing period. The daughter of Donald Trump Jr, Kai signed her national letter of intent last week during a ceremony at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida—mere miles from her grandfather's Mar-a-Lago estate—but NCAA rules prohibited public acknowledgement until the signing window opened. Her commitment, first verbalised in August 2024, fulfils a long-held ambition to don the Hurricanes' orange and green, blending family legacy with athletic pursuit in a programme renowned for producing LPGA standouts like Stacy Lewis and Brooke Henderson. This addition injects star power into Miami's squad, poised for the 2026-27 season, amid a broader class that includes Orlando's Bella Dovhey and Tennessee's Carlee Rogers, both hailed by coach Janice Olivencia for their all-around prowess and championship pedigrees.

Kai's journey to Miami underscores a deliberate choice rooted in proximity, prestige, and personal ties; she cited the programme's esteemed coaching staff, its location near home, and alumni connections—including several cousins—as key factors during a press conference ahead of her LPGA debut at The Annika tournament in Belleair, Florida. A multi-sport athlete from a family steeped in golf—her grandfather's passion is legendary—Kai has honed her game at elite junior levels, competing in American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) events where she ranks 461st nationally after three outings this season. Yet, her profile extends far beyond the fairway: as a social media influencer with over 8 million followers across platforms, her content—from a 5.1 million-view election night vlog to a 2 million-view Ryder Cup clip with President Trump—has amplified her reach, securing name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals with TaylorMade and partnerships alongside Travis Kelce and Livvy Dunne. This digital savviness positions her as a modern recruit, merging athletic talent with marketability in an era where college sports increasingly intersect with branding.

Olivencia, in her fourth season guiding the Hurricanes, praised Kai's "tremendous energy and excitement," emphasising her competitive spirit, ball-striking prowess—impressing even Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam with her tee-shot distance—and dedication to refining her short game. While Kai's LPGA sponsor exemption for The Annika marks a milestone—she teed off on November 13 alongside pros Hinako Shibuno and Olivia Cowan—the coach anticipates the inherent spotlight will elevate the programme without overwhelming it. "We view any potential exposure as positive," Olivencia told the Associated Press, crediting the team's maturity and Miami's robust support systems for fostering normalcy. The Hurricanes, who finished 2025 ranked outside the top 50 amid a rebuilding phase, now eye a renaissance, leveraging Kai's arrival to draw recruits and fans alike in the competitive Atlantic Coast Conference landscape.

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As Kai transitions from high school stardom—where she skipped the Class 1A state championship for pro-am prep—to collegiate competition, her story resonates as a bridge between privilege and perseverance. Sorenstam, who played alongside her in practice rounds, marvelled at the teenager's resilience amid public scrutiny, noting, "To be 17 years old and hear all the comments, she must be super tough on the inside." For Miami golf, long a talent incubator with 12 individual national champions in its history, Kai's enrolment heralds not just heightened visibility—evident in the flurry of social media buzz from outlets like Rivals and The Washington Times—but a narrative of growth that could inspire peers. With four years of eligibility ahead, her Hurricanes tenure promises to blend family lore, on-course evolution, and off-course influence, potentially redefining visibility in women's collegiate golf.

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