Trump attends NFL game, gets booed
The Washington, DC area, where the stadium is located, leans strongly Democratic, and many local workers have been affected by Trump’s government spending cuts
US President Donald Trump attended Sunday's NFL game between the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions, becoming the first sitting president in nearly five decades to appear at a regular-season matchup.
Trump's visit to Northwest Stadium drew a mixed response. Large sections of fans booed and jeered when he was shown on the big screens late in the first half and again when he was introduced at halftime, says the Guardian.
The Washington, DC area, where the stadium is located, leans strongly Democratic, and many local workers have been affected by Trump's government spending cuts. The jeering continued during an on-field ceremony in which Trump read an oath for military members to recite.
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The president arrived after the game had started, telling reporters, "I'm a little bit late." Air Force One performed a flyover before landing nearby.
Fox Sports gave Trump nearly 10 minutes of airtime in the broadcast booth, where he called some of the third-quarter action and discussed his high school football experience. "At least you realize I never tell a lie," he said, adding that he never scored any touchdowns. When asked about the country's economy, he claimed that prices were going down for Americans, which the network described as "somewhat dubiously."
Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown performed the "Trump dance" after a touchdown catch, later saying he did so for fun since the president was in attendance. Commanders president Mark Clouse said the team was honored to host Trump as part of the NFL's league-wide Salute to Service initiative.
Trump also expressed interest in the Commanders' new stadium development and praised team owner Josh Harris. According to an ESPN report on Saturday, the White House had informed the ownership group that Trump wanted the team's future stadium to bear his name.
The president left before the game ended. The Commanders lost 44-22 to the Lions.
Sunday's appearance was the latest in a string of high-profile sports events attended by Trump, following visits to the Ryder Cup, the Daytona 500, and the US Open men's tennis final.
