President Donald Trump was met with boos from the crows when he took over the sound system to speak at the Washington Commanders' match against the Detroit Lions
10:00 ET, 11 Nov 2025Updated 10:01 ET, 11 Nov 2025
United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and U.S. President Donald Trump interact with fans during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Landover, Maryland
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Donald Trump was booed by fans at Northwest Stadium during halftime of the game(Image: Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Donald Trump was left humiliated after 'pretending to get the joke' as he was booed at the Washington Commanders' match against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, a body language expert has revealed.
The billionaire made history as the first sitting president in nearly 50 years to attend a regular-season NFL game. His appearance was met with a chorus of boos from some spectators when he was featured on the videoboard late in the first half - standing in a suite alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson - and again when the stadium announcer introduced him at halftime.
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The jeering persisted as Trump read an oath for military members to recite during an on-field enlistment ceremony at the game's intermission.
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Speaking to TheMirror.com, body language expert Judi James explained what Trump's body language betrayed about his feelings over the booing.
She said: "Trump tries a range of contrasting non-verbal responses from his repertoire here but the way they occur in a short space of time suggests he’s struggling.
"His initial response is an Oxbow Mouth, pulled down hard at the sides to give the impression of a sneer of disgust. His eyes stare forward blankly before he quickly converts to a Bullfrog Smile with his lips clamped and hiked up to suggest amused resilience.
"Then he throws in his selfie rictus to pretend he gets the joke, throwing a wave, just in case."
People react as Trump appears onscreen during the NFL game
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He was the first sitting president in nearly 50 years to attend a regular-season NFL game
Ms James adds: "He turns to the side to keep busy but as he reads into the mic he shouts unnecessarily, using wide open mouth enunciation as though taking the hecklers on."
Before the president's arrival in the first quarter, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrated a touchdown catch by pointing into the stands and mimicking the " Trump dance " that several athletes started doing last year.
During the third quarter, Trump joined Fox broadcasters Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma for about eight minutes of casual conversation. Albert kicked off the chat by asking Trump about his high school football days 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 shared.
Trump (C), alongside US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (L) and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris
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Trump was booed at the event
ESPN reported on Saturday that an intermediary for the White House informed the Commanders' ownership group that Trump is interested in having the team's new stadium - part of a nearly $4 billion project in Washington DC at the former RFK Stadium site - named after him.
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During his TV appearance on Sunday, Trump discussed 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 stated. "And you have a wonderful owner, Josh (Harris) and his group. And you're going to see some very good things."