US Open: Why was Donald Trump booed at finale? Tennis fans annoyed with US President's visit

US president Donald Trump was booed at the US Open men’s singles final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in New York on Sunday.

Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, Trump was shown on the screens, prompting reactions from the crowd. ABC broadcast footage showed him stepping out of a box to wave, though the channel did not capture crowd audio. Later, ESPN coverage included audible cheers and boos as Trump appeared again.

US Tennis Association (USTA) asked broadcasters not to show reactions to Trump. A USTA spokesperson told Reuters the association routinely requests that off-court disruptions not be highlighted.

Why was Trump booed?

Fans queued for over an hour at Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York’s largest tennis venue, with a nearly 24,000-person capacity. US secret service and other federal security officers screened bags and guided fans through metal detectors. The match, originally scheduled for 2 pm EDT, began 30 minutes late due to it.

Kevin, a man from Brooklyn working in private equity, said he waited 1.5 hrs and blamed Trump for the delay. “One hundred percent him. Very selfish. He should know an event like this would be held up for him, especially in a city that hates him,” he said to Reuters.
Another source told Page Six that the event was absolute chaos. “Cars can’t get into parking lots and people are walking miles. Even celebs are waiting like everyone else.”

Some fans were unbothered, however. Karen Stark, a retired tennis fan from Michigan, said, “Trump can go wherever he wants and attend a match if he wants to,” as quoted by Reuters.

A secret service spokesperson acknowledged the delays, saying, “We recognise that enhanced security for the president's visit may have contributed to delays for attendees. We sincerely thank every fan for their patience and understanding.”
The USTA said it had tried to reduce delays by messaging ticket holders to arrive early and use public transport.

After returning to Washington, Trump told reporters he “loved” attending the match and praised both players’ “unbelievable talent,” and sarcastically added, “The fans were really nice. I didn’t know what to expect. Usually, you would say that would be a somewhat 'progressive’ crowd, as they say nowadays.”

Trump, who regularly plays golf in the Washington area and at his properties in New Jersey and Florida, has attended multiple sports events as president, including the Super Bowl and UFC fights, receiving mixed reactions each time.