Donald Trump drew loud boos and jeers Sunday night (November 9) at FedEx Field as he became the first sitting president in 47 years to attend a regular-season NFL game, only to be met with a wave of disapproval from the Washington Commanders crowd.
The backlash erupted during the second quarter of the Commanders’ matchup against the Detroit Lions when Trump’s image flashed across the stadium’s jumbo screen.
Standing in a private suite alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump was met with a chorus of boos that only grew louder when the stadium announcer formally introduced him at halftime.
Even a military enlistment ceremony didn’t soften the crowd’s reaction. As Trump administered the oath to new service members, sections of the 67,000-person audience continued to voice their discontent.
H########!!! Drop everything you’re doing and watch this two-minute clip of Donald Trump being BOOED MERCILESSLY at the Commanders game. pic.twitter.com/sppIpCOriN
— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) November 9, 2025
Trump’s appearance marked a rare moment in presidential sports history. The last time a sitting president attended a regular-season NFL game was Jimmy Carter in 1978. Before that, it was Richard Nixon in 1969.
During the third quarter, Trump joined Fox Sports broadcasters Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma for an eight-minute segment.
He reminisced 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,” he said.
Trump’s relationship with the NFL has been tense since his first term, when he repeatedly criticized players kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial and social injustice.
The movement, started by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016, drew sharp rebukes from Trump, who called on team owners to fire those who protested.
The timing of Trump’s visit came as lawmakers in Washington scrambled to resolve a government shutdown. The Senate later advanced legislation to end the shutdown.
He left the game before the final whistle, with the Lions defeating the Commanders 44-22.
Meanwhile, Trump has shown interest in having the Commanders’ proposed $4 billion stadium project named after him.
The new venue is expected to be built at the former RFK Stadium site in Washington, D.C. During the broadcast, Trump said, “They’re going to build a beautiful stadium. That’s what I’m involved in, we’re getting all the approvals and everything else. And you have a wonderful owner, Josh (Harris) and his group. And you’re going to see some very good things.”
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