Brittany Lincicome, a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour, recently told the Chicago Tribune she hoped the president would stay away from the event so the focus will be on the golfers and not him. Ko was asked what she thought of those comments.
"Everyone has their own opinion and I think Britt probably didn't say it so literally but, you know, I don't know exactly when or if President Trump is going to come here," Ko said.
"If he does, I'm sure he's here to see some great golf like he did before. If he does, that's cool. But everybody is free to have their own thought and to me I have no idea when or if he is coming so we'll just have to see then."
It's unclear whether Trump will attend the tournament said Matt Sawicki, director of USGA championships. The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued the type of flight restriction around the club from Friday through Sunday that it typically issues when Trump is expected there.
Ko, who had a chance to win the US Open last year before a final round meltdown, was asked if she had any reservations about playing the tournament or even withdrawing in protest over the Trump connection. She side-stepped the question like an All Black.
"I've always been excited to play the US Women's Open. I had my best finish at this tournament last year. I was leading going into the final round and it was an experience like no other.
"To me it's more excitement. When I first got to see the course here through the media day I felt this was going to be a fantastic golf course for us and come in here this week and seeing it in such - in a great conditions, I think I'm more excited than concerned."
The media kept pressing, asking if security was a concern in the face of likely protests.
"We had protesters before ... and the LPGA and security and everybody was able to handle that. As players we were out there pretty much playing golf.
"I think that will also be the same case here, everybody will do an amazing job to make sure we focus on our game and just practising and playing and everybody has their own opinions. I have my opinion and everybody is free to have their own opinion but for me, I think I'm just going to have a great week here, enjoy it and I'm excited to play the US Women's Open and not think [of] it in a political way."
Ko is used to Trump bringing distractions. In the 2015 British Open at Trump's Turnberry course in Scotland, she was on the 16th hole when Trump's helicopter twice circled the links.
Asked if the chopper put her off her game, Ko replied: "I was like, 'Man, that's a really nice helicopter. I would love one'."
Ko turned in a poor performance in the most recent major, finishing 59th at the PGA Championship last month. Rather than get caught up in negatives she took to new-found passion for Lego to relax.
"We had some people come, friends come over for July 4th and to me I just took the first few days just to relax and not think about it. I found a new hobby. I build like Lego houses. It says for 6 to 12-year-olds. It took my mind off of golf."
Ko identified putting as the most important facet of her game to get right this week.
"The greens will be the biggest part of this golf course. The greens are really big here and even though they're big, just because you're on the green doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be an easy two-putt or a birdie.
"So, I think getting the [putting] speed right and - because you might be a long distance away - that's going to be super important."
