Most teenagers would probably shut down after facing the kind of criticism Kai Trump did at The Annika, but not her. Kai takes the lesson away from all the scrutiny and charges ahead. Now, she’s breaking her silence on how she’s handling the relentless backlash.

“When you get hate, and you get things online, I feel you have to just let it roll off your back,” the 18-year-old explained. “After doing this for a year, it’s gotten so much easier,” Kai said in her January 1, 2026, YouTube video. “It’s kind of hard, especially being in the spotlight as it is with my last name, but then also trying to have a normal life with my friends… I think I’ve learned how to manage social media and my private life a lot.”

Trump is not new to scrutiny. Her last name has kept her every move in the limelight. While most of it was praised, the trolls came rushing in November 2025 before her big LPGA debut at The Annika tournament in Belleair, Florida. Everyone questioned her eligibility for receiving a sponsor invite.

She is ranked 461st in the AJGA, and she sits outside the top 3,000 in the WAGR. In a meritocratic environment, her spot should have gone to any other player grinding her way on the tour. Instead, it went to a girl who had posted rounds of 89-79-83-89 at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. Her dead-end finish in the field didn’t help her case.

Beyond addressing critics, Kai Trump also expressed gratitude for where she is in her life. “I’m honestly very thankful for the life I have as well as the opportunities I have,” she said.

Her 2026 mindset centers on being present in the moment and just enjoying everything she does. Maybe the philosophy is shaped by constant public examination, one that’s made her more self-aware?

“I’ve learned to really handle that, and I’m very proud of myself for handling that, especially this year,” Kai said.

This was not the first time Kai trump signaled resilience and determination. Days after her dream LPGA debut, she shed light on the things people said about her, but then she realized that with scrutiny comes a lot of love, too.

Kai is already putting that mindset into practice. She posted Instagram stories showing her training with Rory McIlroy. The caption reads, “Best way to start the year”.

And talking about her 26′ plans, it includes something unexpected: a viral tournament alongside basketball’s biggest star.

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What’s next for Kai Trump in 2026

Kai Trump got an invitation to the 2026 Internet Invitational, the viral golf tournament that drew in many spectators. Dave Portnoy, the creator of Barstool Sports, revealed that both she and WNBA standout Caitlin Clark agreed to compete. The event got tens of millions of views on its first day, and for 2026, it wants to raise the prize pool from $1 million to $10 million.

The Internet Invitational is a new event compared to regular competitions. There are six episodes, each with 48 YouTube golfers of different skill levels competing. Kai Trump’s participation connects her golf career with her digital content presence, putting her at the crossroads of traditional and new media golf.

Kai is choosing to stay in the public eye even as people criticize her, because she knows her platform goes beyond scorecards. Every upload, tournament, and partnership adds to the career she’s developing on her own terms.