President Donald Trump’s presence at a regular-season NFL game in Washington D.C. was met with a mix of applause and significant booing from the assembled fans. The President attended the Washington Commanders versus Detroit Lions game, where sections of the crowd made their displeasure known. This event is the latest in a series of high-profile appearances by Trump at major sporting events across the country. During the first half, President Trump watched the game from a stadium suite alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson. When his image appeared on the stadium screen late in the first half, loud jeers were audible. The booing continued into halftime when the President was formally introduced to the stadium audience. An on-field ceremony during the break, where Trump recited an oath for military personnel, also elicited negative vocal reactions from the stands. Earlier in the day, Trump briefly spoke to reporters after landing at Joint Base Andrews, commenting on his tardiness and the nation’s positive trajectory, while also urging Democrats to end the government shutdown. Notably, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown performed a touchdown celebration dance that had previously gone viral and was associated with Trump. Several cabinet members and Senator Steve Daines were also reported to be in attendance. Historically, few sitting presidents have attended regular-season NFL games; Richard Nixon in 1969 and Jimmy Carter in 1978 are the only others on record. Trump previously set a precedent as the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl while in office. Furthermore, there are indications that the White House has proposed naming the Commanders’ new $4 billion stadium after the President. This sporting engagement aligns with Trump’s established pattern of attending major events such as the Ryder Cup and the Daytona 500.
