Presidential visits to NFL games don’t happen every day. In fact, they hardly happen at all. When President Donald Trump showed up at Northwest Stadium this Sunday, he became the first sitting president in nearly 50 years to catch a regular-season NFL game in person.
The occasion was the Washington Commanders’ matchup against the Detroit Lions, falling under the league’s Salute to Service initiative that honors military veterans. President Trump’s appearance stirred the crowd in predictable fashion, some cheered, others booed.
Advertisement
MORE: Commanders’ Daron Payne ejected after punching Lions star receiver
The reaction got louder when he popped up on the videoboard and later took part in officiating a halftime military enlistment ceremony.
Washington didn’t fare well on the field, falling 44-22 to Detroit. But the postgame moment might have stolen more headlines than the score. Commanders owner Josh Harris handed President Trump a custom jersey with the number 47 stitched on it, a clever nod to his status as both the 45th and 47th President of the United States.
Advertisement
The pictures quickly made their way around X after the game, and NFL fans wasted no time weighing in.
One fan joked, “If Trump owned the Commanders, they’d still be the Redskins!!”
Advertisement
Another chimed in with, “That’s epic! Trump reppin’ the Commanders like a boss, now all we need is him throwing the first pitch at a Nats game next.”
Someone else cut straight to the point: “He doesn’t want a jersey, he wants his name on your stadium.”
President Donald Trump waves at football fans from the team owner’s suite during the first half between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, November 9, 2025.
President Trump watched the game from the owner’s box and even dropped in on Fox’s halftime broadcast to share a few thoughts on the action. It wasn’t his first rodeo with the NFL; he attended Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans back in February.
Since his return to the White House, he’s been spotted everywhere from UFC fights and the Daytona 500 to the FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, the U.S. Open men’s final, and the Ryder Cup.
—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead—
NFL:NFL Coverage Map, Week 10: What game is on in your area Sunday?
CFB:3 biggest headlines in Week 11 of 2025 college football season
FANTASY FOOTBALL:NFL DFS Sunday main slate picks for Week 10
NBA:Bucks’ Myles Turner reacts to viral green court after NBA Cup victory
SPORTS MEDIA:YouTube TV set to offer $20 credit if deal isn’t reached with Disney by Sunday
VIRAL:Colts’ Carlie Irsay-Gordon buys round of drinks for fans in Germany