Former President Donald Trump experienced a less than warm reception while attending an NFL game over the weekend. On Sunday, Trump was present at the match between the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions, making history as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a regular-season NFL game in nearly 50 years.
When Trump appeared on the stadium”s big screen late in the first half, he was met with a significant chorus of boos from a large segment of the audience. The reaction intensified as he attempted to read a military oath during a break in the game, which drew further jeers from the crowd. Halftime introductions for Trump also received a similar response, as the loud boos echoed throughout the stadium.
This game took place in the Washington, D.C. area, which is known for its strong Democratic support. The impact of Trump”s governmental cuts is felt by many local workers, contributing to the unwelcoming atmosphere.
Trump”s appearance was significant, as he became only the third sitting president to attend a regular-season NFL game, following Richard Nixon in 1969 and Jimmy Carter in 1978. During his time in the broadcast booth on Fox, he engaged in conversation about his high school football experiences and commented on the ongoing game. When asked about the state of the country, Trump asserted that prices are decreasing for Americans.
In a notable aside, reports indicated that Trump expressed interest in having the Commanders” new stadium named after him, stating, “They”re going to build a beautiful stadium. That”s what I”m involved in, we”re getting all the approvals and everything else.” He praised the team”s ownership group led by Josh Harris, mentioning that positive developments were forthcoming.
This was not the first instance of Trump receiving a hostile reception from sports fans in Washington. In 2019, during the World Series at the Washington Nationals stadium, he was met with chants of “lock him up.”
As the game progressed, Trump departed early, likely unimpressed by both the Commanders” performance and the reception he received, as the Lions secured a decisive 44-22 victory.
