Trump, who became the first sitting US president to attend a regular-season game in nearly 50 years, was greeted with jeers
Donald Trump was greeted with loud jeers by fans as he appeared at an NFL game in Washington.
Trump, attending the Washington Commanders contest against Detroit Lions, became the first US president to attend a regular-season NFL game since Jimmy Carter in 1978.
There were loud boos from some spectators in the stands when Trump was shown on the videoboard late in the first half — standing in a suite with House Speaker Mike Johnson — 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’m a little bit late,” 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 armoured car for the drive to the arena.
Sunday’s visit was the latest in a series of high-profile appearances at sporting events by Trump, including golf’s Ryder Cup, auto racing’s Daytona 500 and tennis’ US Open.
His attendance has been met at some of those with hostility from the crowd, most notably with loud boos at the US Open.
Before the president arrived to Sunday’s game, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St Brown celebrated a touchdown catch by pointing into the stands and appearing to perform the “Trump dance” that several athletes began doing last year.
“I heard Trump was going to be at the game,” St Brown said afterward.
“I don’t know how many times the president’s going to be at the game, so just decided to have some fun.”
During the third quarter, Trump was asked by Fox broadcasters about his time playing high school football at New York Military Academy.
“I played tight end, but it was not quite football like this. It was a little bit easier. It wasn’t so tough,” Trump said.
According to a report by ESPN on Saturday, an intermediary for the White House has told the Commanders’ ownership group that Trump wants the club’s new stadium — part of a nearly $4bn project in the nation’s capital at the site of what was known as RFK Stadium — to bear his name.
During his Fox appearance, Trump spoke about the team’s plans to return to Washington.
“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 said. “And you have a wonderful owner, Josh (Harris) and his group. And you’re going to see some very good things.”
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was among those watching the game with Trump, along with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
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That movement began in 2016 with then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
With input from agencies