Donald Trump Greeted by Massive Boos, and Some Cheers, During Commanders vs. Lions NFL Game

Donald Trump drew a noticeably mixed response during Sunday’s Commanders–Lions NFL game on Nov. 9.

Late in the first half, as the president, 79, was shown on the stadium screens while standing inside a suite with House Speaker Mike Johnson, a loud blend of boos and cheers broke out across the venue, according to videos shared online. The reaction repeated later in the evening when the stadium announcer introduced him during halftime.

During the break, Trump read the Oath of Enlistment to service members gathered on the field, prompting another audible mix of support and disapproval throughout the Commanders’ Northwest Stadium.

This was not the first time in recent months that Trump has encountered a divided crowd at a major event. He was also met with boos at the US Open in September and the FIFA World Cup in July.

Trump’s attendance at the Commanders–Lions matchup marked a historic moment, making him the first sitting president to visit a regular-season NFL game in nearly 50 years. The Associated Press noted that the last such appearance came from Jimmy Carter in 1978, and before him, Richard Nixon in 1969.

Earlier this year, Trump became the first president to attend a Super Bowl while in office, watching the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22.

During the third quarter of Sunday’s game, Trump joined Fox Sports broadcasters Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma for a brief discussion. When asked why he enjoys attending major sporting events, he replied, “You have the triumph and you have the problems, and you have to get through the problems to hit the triumphs.”