President Donald Trump’s planned appearance at the U.S. Open men’s final on Sunday prompted a large security sweep and precautionary checks for chemical agents, an insider told the Daily Mail.
The source said teams working with the tournament were "scoping out the area with our colleagues in the CIA" and were taking steps to guard against attacks involving nerve agents or other chemical weapons. The preparations were described as precautionary and were not understood to stem from a specific, credible threat against the president.
The president, who has attended the U.S. Open previously but not since 2015, was scheduled to watch the men’s singles final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Tournament organizers did not invite him as an official guest; the Daily Mail reported he was attending as a guest of Rolex, a major sponsor.
An email attributed to the United States Tennis Association and circulated to broadcasters said Trump "will be shown on the World Feed and the Ashe Court Feed during the opening anthem ceremony" and asked networks to "refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President's attendance in any capacity." The USTA did not immediately respond to requests for comment through the Daily Mail.
Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz, asked about Trump’s attendance after his win over Novak Djokovic, said it was a privilege to have a president in attendance and that he would try not to be distracted while playing.
Trump’s appearance in New York capped a stretch in which he has frequently attended major sporting events since returning to the White House, the Daily Mail noted. He was expected to be at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 11 and has said he would attend the Ryder Cup at Bethpage on Sept. 26. Earlier this year he attended the Super Bowl and, more recently, was seen at the FIFA Club World Cup final near New York.
Trump’s presence at sporting events has sometimes generated controversy. He drew boos during his last U.S. Open visit in 2015, and networks faced accusations from some supporters that broadcast coverage has downplayed or edited audience reactions when the president appears.
The reported security precautions followed a period of online speculation about Trump’s health after he made fewer public appearances in late August. Conspiracy theories that circulated on social media and some commentary by public figures suggested he might be ill; the Daily Mail said those claims were unfounded and pointed to public outings, including rounds of golf, as evidence he remained active.
Organizers and security partners declined to characterize the nature or scope of countermeasures beyond saying the steps were precautionary. The Daily Mail report did not cite an official statement from the White House, the Secret Service or the U.S. Tennis Association confirming the described chemical-screening activities.