President Donald Trump’s unexpected decision to cut short a weekend at Camp David produced an unusual scene back in Washington, with golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Gary Player among those returning aboard Marine One.
According to the reports, DeChambeau and his girlfriend, former Canadian hockey goalkeeper Mikayla Demaiter, were spotted getting off the presidential helicopter near the White House after the Camp David visit ended Saturday night. Another photograph showed DeChambeau seated alongside 90-year-old golf legend Player aboard Marine One.
Trump was also photographed leaving the helicopter before heading toward a waiting vehicle.
Camp David Visit Ends Ahead of Schedule
The White House had not provided an explanation for the president’s early return in the material provided. The timing, however, coincided with a State Department security advisory concerning the Middle East.
The advisory quoted in the reports urged Americans in the region to “exercise heightened vigilance” and prepare for possible travel disruptions amid fighting involving the Iranian-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
“This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly,” the advisory said, according to the supplied material. It also warned Americans outside the Middle East to reconsider travel through the region and advised travelers to monitor airport and airline operations.
The supplied reporting contained no information establishing that the security situation caused Trump to leave Camp David early.
DeChambeau’s presence on the trip was less surprising than the abrupt return itself. He has maintained a public relationship with Trump and played a widely viewed round of golf with him in 2024 for a charity-focused video. The player has also been associated with Trump through golf.
Demaiter, 26, previously played goalkeeper in women’s hockey before developing a large social-media following as a model and influencer. She had recently appeared in social-media material connected with DeChambeau around a LIV Golf event at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.
DeChambeau Faces Questions Over LIV Golf Future
Meanwhile, DeChambeau has questions surrounding his professional golf future.
The supplied material says LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New Jersey on September 8 after its Saudi Arabian financial backers announced earlier in the year that they were withdrawing their support.
DeChambeau fueled additional speculation after LIV’s final event of the year, when he posted photographs covering his victories from the previous four years with the brief caption, “It was a good run.”
His reach now extends well beyond tournament golf. The two-time U.S. Open champion has built a major online audience, with millions of followers across YouTube and Instagram.
Millions Reportedly Owed to LIV Golf Stars
The bankruptcy proceedings have also reportedly left several prominent golfers with substantial unsecured claims. According to figures contained in the supplied reporting, Jon Rahm is listed as being owed $7.5 million, while DeChambeau has a claim of $5.8 million. Dustin Johnson is reportedly owed $5.5 million, Cameron Smith $4.8 million, Adrian Meronk $4.4 million, and Tyrrell Hatton $3.4 million.
That leaves two separate stories surrounding DeChambeau: uncertainty over what comes next in his professional golf career and an unexpectedly shortened Camp David visit with the president.
For now, the material provided does not explain why the presidential retreat ended ahead of schedule. The photographs establish that Trump and his golfing guests returned to Washington Saturday night. At the same time, the reports place that return against a period of heightened security concerns in the Middle East. Without an official explanation linking the two events, however, the timing alone does not establish why Trump changed his plans.
