The United States Tennis Association asked television broadcasters to avoid showing or amplifying any audience reactions to President Donald Trump during his attendance at Sunday’s men’s singles final at the US Open in New York City.
In an email to broadcast partners first reported by the New York Post, the USTA said the president will be shown on the World Feed and the Ashe Court Feed during the opening anthem ceremony and requested that networks "refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President's attendance in any capacity, including ENG [Electronic News Gathering] coverage." The instruction described such sounds and images as "distractions."
The request applies to the feeds many broadcasters use to shape their domestic telecasts. In the United States, Disney-owned ESPN holds the domestic rights to the tournament and would be among the outlets receiving the direction from the USTA. The email did not specify penalties for noncompliance or outline how audio mixing decisions would be coordinated across different networks.
Trump previously attended the US Open in 2015 and was met with public boos, an episode that drew attention at the time. He has not attended the tournament since. Sunday's final is scheduled to feature Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
The New York Post reported it contacted the USTA for comment. The USTA did not immediately provide a public statement to media outlets about the guidance when the report appeared.
Broadcasters routinely make editorial and technical choices about what to show and hear during live events, including when high-profile figures are present. The USTA’s message underscores the organization’s effort to manage the presentation of the opening ceremony at Ashe Court amid heightened public interest in the president’s appearances.
The request raises questions about how live sports coverage balances event organizers’ instructions with editorial judgment when political figures attend. Network producers decide audio and camera selections in real time, and major international feeds are often adapted for domestic telecasts. The USTA’s direction to avoid amplifying audience reactions represents an effort by the tournament host to limit the visibility of any overt crowd responses during the brief ceremony in which the president is shown.
The men’s final will proceed under the tournament’s existing security and broadcast arrangements, and viewers will see how networks implement the USTA’s guidance during the opening anthem and any subsequent shots of the presidential box.