President Donald Trump was repeatedly booed — and occasionally cheered — while attending the U.S. Open men’s final Sunday afternoon, an episode that added to a string of public sporting events where the president has faced vocal backlash.
Trump attended the match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as a guest of the luxury watch brand Rolex. The president’s appearance coincided with stricter security measures that delayed the scheduled 2 p.m. start by nearly an hour as hundreds of spectators remained in security lines outside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
During the playing of the national anthem, sections of the crowd issued boos when Trump was visible. Broadcasts later showed him saluting from a suite on the stadium Jumbotron, which drew a smattering of cheers, and the camera panned to the president again during a set break and was met with extended jeers. Members of the administration seen attending with Trump included Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The crowd reaction followed reports that the U.S. Tennis Association had asked broadcasters to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions to the president’s attendance. ABC and ESPN continued to air the jeers and heckling, according to multiple accounts, and thus captured the crowd’s response live on television.
The incident at Arthur Ashe Stadium is the latest in several high-profile sporting appearances in which Trump has been jeered. Earlier this year, the president faced boos at the FIFA Club World Cup, and he was also met with negative reactions during the 2019 World Series while serving his first term.
Organizers’ decision to increase security and the resulting delay affected many fans attempting to enter the stadium. The U.S. Open has in past years adjusted access and screening procedures for high-profile guests, and the association’s direction to broadcasters drew criticism from some observers who said it amounted to an effort to limit visible dissent.
Broadcasters that opted to keep crowd noise and reactions in their live feeds said they were reporting what occurred in the stadium in real time. The U.S. Tennis Association did not immediately provide comment on the request to broadcasters or on the handling of security lines at the time of the match.
Sunday’s events highlighted tensions that can arise when prominent political figures attend large public sporting events, creating logistical challenges for event organizers and raising questions about how much broadcasters should moderate on-air coverage of audience responses. The U.S. Open match concluded after the interruptions and delays, with television audiences and spectators alike witnessing both the tennis and the public reaction to the presidential visit.