LANDOVER, Md. — Donald Trump became the first sitting president in nearly a half-century to attend a regular-season NFL game, attending the Washington Commanders’ 44-22 loss to the visiting Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Some spectators booed in the stands when Trump appeared on a video screen late in the first half, standing in a suite with House Speaker Mike Johnson, and again when the president was introduced by the stadium announcer at halftime.
Trump read an oath for members of the military to read as part of a field recruiting ceremony during intermission in the game.
“I’m a little late,” Trump told reporters earlier as he stepped off Air Force One after landing at Joint Base Andrews after flying over Northwest Stadium during the game. Then he got into his armored car and headed to the stadium.
“We will have a good match,” he said.
In the first quarter on Sunday, before the Chiefs arrived, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Paul celebrated. Brown caught the landing by pointing to the stands and moving his arms similar to the “Trump dance” that many athletes began doing last year.
“I heard Trump was going to be at the game,” St. Brown said afterward. He added: “I don’t know how many times the president will attend the match, so I decided to have some fun.”
Lions coach Dan Campbell said he was so preoccupied with the game itself that he didn’t notice Trump arriving, “but that’s great. … You’re talking about the president of the United States. That’s a big deal.”
His team’s quarterback, Jared Goff, was fascinated to see Trump’s plane flying so low over the field.
“It’s great he was here,” Goff said.
During the third quarter, Trump joined Fox anchors Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma for eight minutes of lighthearted chat. Albert opened his speech by asking Trump about his time playing high school football at the New York Military Academy.
“I played tight, but football wasn’t that way. It was a little easier. It wasn’t too hard,” Trump said.
Trump left before Sunday’s game ended.
Only two other times has a president attended a regular-season NFL game while in office, according to the league: Richard Nixon in 1969 and Jimmy Carter in 1978. Trump became the first president to attend a Super Bowl while living in the White House when he watched the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in February.
ESPN reported on Saturday that a White House mediator told the Leaders’ ownership group that Trump wants the club’s new stadium — part of a nearly $4 billion project in the nation’s capital on the site of what was known as RFK Stadium — to bear his name.
In a television appearance on Sunday, Trump spoke about the team’s plans to return to Washington.
“They are going to build a beautiful stadium. That’s what I’m involved in, we get all the approvals and everything else,” he said. “And you have a great owner, Josh (Harris) and his group. You’re going to see some very good things.”
Sunday’s visit was the latest in a series of high-profile appearances by Trump at sporting events, including golf’s Ryder Cup, the Daytona 500 auto racing tournament and the US Open tennis tournament.
“I love it. It’s a microcosm of life,” Trump said of sports during Sunday’s broadcast. “It’s like life, the good, the bad and the ugly.”
Before the game, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke with Harris — the leader of the group that bought Commanders from Daniel Snyder for about $6 billion in 2023 — and participated in a field ceremony with members of the military.
Hegseth was among those who watched the match with Trump, along with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
