Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump made history Sunday as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a regular-season NFL game in nearly five decades — and was met with a mix of cheers and loud boos from spectators inside Northwest Stadium during the Washington Commanders’ matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Trump appeared on the videoboard late in the first half, standing in a suite alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson, prompting a wave of jeers that grew louder when the stadium announcer formally introduced him at halftime. The crowd’s reaction continued as Trump participated in an on-field military enlistment ceremony, leading recruits in their oath of service.
“I’m a little bit late,” Trump told reporters after landing at Joint Base Andrews, following a flyover above the stadium. “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.
During the game’s third quarter, Trump joined Fox Sports broadcasters Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma for several minutes, recalling his time as a tight end at New York Military Academy. “It was not quite football like this,” he joked. “It was a little bit easier.”
Trump left the stadium before the game concluded. His appearance marked the first time a sitting president had attended a regular-season NFL game since Jimmy Carter in 1978 and Richard Nixon in 1969. Earlier this year, Trump became the first president to attend a Super Bowl while in office when he watched the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in February.
According to an ESPN report, an intermediary for the White House recently informed the Commanders’ ownership group that Trump is interested in having the team’s proposed new $4 billion stadium in Washington bear his name.
“They’re going to build a beautiful stadium,” Trump said during his televised appearance. “That’s what I’m involved in — we’re getting all the approvals. And you have a wonderful owner, Josh Harris, and his group. You’re going to see some very good things.”
Trump attended the game alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and Sen. Steve Daines of Montana. Hegseth also participated in an on-field ceremony with members of the U.S. military before kickoff.
Trump’s presence underscored his long and often tense history with the NFL. During his first term, he criticized players who knelt during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, calling on team owners to fire those who participated. The movement, led by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016, became a flashpoint in the national conversation about race and patriotism.
Sunday’s visit adds to Trump’s growing list of appearances at major sporting events, including the Daytona 500, the Ryder Cup, and the U.S. Open. “I just love it. It’s a microcosm of life,” he told Fox broadcasters. “It’s sort of like life — the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
