LANDOVER, Md. (AP) \u2014 Donald Trump became the first sitting president in nearly a half-century at a regular-season NFL game, attending the Washington Commanders’ contest against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
There were loud boos from some spectators in the stands when Trump was shown on the videoboard late in the first half \u2014 standing in a suite with House Speaker Mike Johnson \u2014 and again when the president was introduced by the stadium announcer at halftime.
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The jeering continued while Trump read an oath for members of the military to recite as part of an on-field enlistment ceremony during the break in the game.
“I\u2019m a little bit late,\u201d Trump told reporters earlier when he got off Air Force One after landing at Joint Base Andrews, following a flyover of Northwest Stadium during the game. He then got in his armored car for the drive to the arena.
\u201cWe\u2019re gonna have a good game. Things are going along very well. The country\u2019s doing well. The Democrats have to open it up,\u201d he said \u2014 a reference to the government shutdown.
In the first quarter Sunday, before the president arrived, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrated a touchdown catch by pointing into the stands and moving his arms a la the \u201c Trump dance \u201d that several athletes began doing last year.
During the third quarter, Trump joined Fox broadcasters Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma for about eight minutes of lighthearted chat. Albert opened by asking Trump about his time playing high school football at New York Military Academy.
\u201cI played tight end, but it was not quite football like this. It was a little bit easier. It wasn\u2019t so tough,\u201d Trump said.
Trump left before Sunday\u2019s game ended.
Only two other times did a president go to an NFL game during the regular season while in office, according to the league: Richard Nixon in 1969 and Jimmy Carter in 1978. Trump became the first president at a Super Bowl while residing in the White House when he watched the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in February.
According to a report by ESPN on Saturday, an intermediary for the White House has told the Commanders\u2019 ownership group that Trump wants the club\u2019s new stadium \u2014 part of a nearly $4 billion project in the nation\u2019s capital at the site of what was known as RFK Stadium \u2014 to bear his name.
In Sunday’s TV appearance, Trump spoke about the team\u2019s plans to return to Washington.
\u201cThey\u2019re going to build a beautiful stadium. That\u2019s what I\u2019m involved in, we\u2019re getting all the approvals and everything else,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd you have a wonderful owner, Josh (Harris) and his group. And you\u2019re going to see some very good things.\u201d
Sunday\u2019s visit was the latest in a series of high-profile appearances at sporting events by Trump, including golf\u2019s Ryder Cup, auto racing\u2019s Daytona 500 and tennis\u2019 U.S. Open.
\u201cI just love it. It\u2019s a microcosm of life,” Trump said about sports during Sunday’s broadcast. \u201cIt\u2019s sort of like life — the good, the bad and the ugly.\u201d
Before the game, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth chatted with Harris \u2014 the leader of the group that purchased the Commanders from Daniel Snyder for about $6 billion in 2023 \u2014 and took part in an on-field ceremony with members of the military.
Hegseth was among those watching the game with Trump, along with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana.
There was friction between Trump and the NFL during his first presidential term, when he objected to players kneeling during the national anthem to protest social or racial injustice. That movement began in 2016 with then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Via social media and other public comments, Trump insisted that players should stand for the national anthem and called on team owners to fire anyone taking a knee.
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Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price and AP Sports Writer Ben Nuckols contributed to this report.
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AP NFL: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nfl<\/p>\n