Donald Trump attended the Washington Commanders’ game against the Detroit Lions at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on Sunday, marking the first appearance by a sitting US president at an NFL game since Jimmy Carter in 1978.
Trump arrived with a display of presidential pageantry, including an Air Force One flyover and a ceremonial swearing-in of a group of military recruits as part of the league’s annual Salute to Service tribute.
But his first appearance didn't seem go well with the audience. There were boos from large sections of fans in the stands as well as scattered cheers when he was shown on the videoboard late in the first half of the Washington Commanders’ game on Sunday at Northwest Stadium.
The videoboard image showed him standing in a suite with House Speaker Mike Johnson, and the reception repeated when the stadium announcer introduced the president at halftime, AP news reported.
The jeering continued while Trump read an oath for members of the military to recite as part of an on-field 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.
“We’re gonna have a good game. Things are going along very well. The country’s doing well. The Democrats have to open it up,” he said, a reference to the govt shutdown.
The Washington DC area has strong Democrat support, while Trump’s cuts to the govt have affected many workers in the vicinity of the Commanders’ stadium.
Sunday was not the first time Trump received a hostile reception from a Washington sports crowd: he was greeted with “lock him up” chants at the Washington Nationals’ home stadium during the 2019 World Series.
Trump left before Sunday’s game ended.
How internet reacted?
The videos of Trump being booed gone viral on internet. One of the users on X said, "HOLY SHIT!!! Drop everything you're doing and watch this two-minute clip of Donald Trump being BOOED MERCILESSLY at the Commanders game."
Another user said, "This is brutal. Trump just got LOUDLY booed at the Commanders game. Americans hate him. So humiliating for Trump."
Several MAGA fans felt the boos was disgusting and disrespectful.
One of them said, "Wow. Doesn’t get much more disrespectful than this. Fans can be heard booing President Trump during the swearing in of U.S. military members at Lions vs. Commanders game."
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