Donald Trump booed at NFL game, first sitting President to attend in nearly 50 years
Donald Trump became the first sitting US President in nearly five decades to attend a regular-season NFL game on Sunday, drawing loud boos from spectators as he appeared at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
The Washington Commanders lost 44–22 to the visiting Detroit Lions, but the attention briefly shifted to Trump, who was shown on the videoboard late in the first half, standing in a suite alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The crowd jeered again when the stadium announcer introduced him at halftime, and the noise grew as he led an enlistment oath for members of the military on the field.
Holy Sh*t. This is brutal. I’ve never seen him get booed this much.
Americans are turning against Trump, and they’re letting him know. pic.twitter.com/oIo9WDpEBv“I’m a little bit late,” Trump told reporters earlier after landing at Joint Base Andrews, following a low flyover of the stadium by Air Force One.
“We’re gonna have a good game. Things are going along very well. The country’s doing well. The Democrats have to open it up,” he added, referring to the ongoing government shutdown.
Before Trump arrived, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrated a touchdown with the viral “Trump dance,” a move several athletes have popularized.
“I heard Trump was going to be at the game,” St. Brown said afterward. “I don’t know how many times the President is going to be here, so I just decided to have some fun.”
The Lions just scored and broke out the Trump dance — while pointing to Trump in the owner’s box: pic.twitter.com/zNeg4UlRgK
Trump later joined Fox broadcasters Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma during the third quarter for an eight-minute chat about sports and his high school football days.
He also commented on plans for the Commanders’ proposed $4 billion stadium in Washington, saying he was involved in “getting all the approvals.” ESPN reported that Trump has expressed interest in having the new venue bear his name.
Only Richard Nixon in 1969 and Jimmy Carter in 1978 have attended regular-season NFL games while in office. Trump left before the game ended, waving to a crowd that remained just as divided as the country he leads.