White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt drew widespread ridicule online after posting a video of President Donald Trump signing hats and tossing them into the crowd at the U.S. Open men’s final.
Leavitt shared the footage on X, formerly Twitter, on Sept. 8, 2025, writing, “The People’s President and the coolest boss ever. Signing hats for fans at the #USOpen.” The clip was rapidly circulated by Trump supporters as evidence of his popularity, while critics seized on moments from the appearance that showed audience members booing.
Video from the stadium showed Trump greeting fans and tossing signed baseball caps into the stands. Supporters amplified the post, sharing the footage alongside messages praising his outreach to attendees. Leavitt, who serves as the White House press secretary, framed the moment as a casual, personable interaction between the president and spectators.
Several viewers, however, pointed to audible boos during Trump’s brief appearance. Media and social clips showed some sections of the crowd reacting negatively, and reports said the boos occurred at multiple points, including when Trump’s image appeared on the stadium Jumbotron during the national anthem.
Critics on social media mocked Leavitt’s characterization of the scene. One user wrote sarcastically that the moment amounted to “authentic connection forged through branded merchandise.” Another said Trump was “trying desperately to insert himself into any venue he can.” A third commenter referenced past attempts to influence event coverage and wrote that the appearance had been “embarrassing” for the White House.
The exchange highlights the continuing polarization around Trump’s public appearances. Supporters frequently spotlight such moments as evidence of enduring popularity, while opponents point to negative reactions or protests at the same events as countervailing proof of dissent.
The U.S. Open appearance was one of several high-profile outings for Trump in recent months, as his team has sought to maintain visibility ahead of the presidential campaign calendar. Leavitt’s post followed a pattern in which White House communications have amplified informal or personal-seeming moments to underscore the president’s rapport with voters.
Leavitt did not immediately respond to requests for further comment on the post. The White House has defended similar outreach efforts in the past as authentic engagement with supporters, while critics say such moments can be staged or selectively framed. Coverage of the tennis final and related social media reaction continued to circulate across platforms in the hours after the video was posted.