President Donald Trump received a mixed reception of boos and cheers when he attended the US Open men’s final on Sunday, September 7, 2025, marking his first appearance at the tournament since 2015. The president’s visit to Arthur Ashe Stadium caused significant disruptions, including extensive security delays and a controversial request from tournament organizers to limit broadcast coverage of crowd reactions.
The match between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner was delayed by more than 30 minutes due to heightened security measures implemented for Trump’s attendance. Hundreds of spectators missed the start of play as Secret Service security checks created lengthy queues stretching back to the entrance of the Flushing Meadows complex. Many ticket holders who had paid thousands of dollars for seats were forced to wait outside as the match began.
Trump attended the final as a guest of tournament sponsor Rolex, despite his administration having imposed a 39 percent tariff on Swiss products just weeks earlier. The president was accompanied by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and family members including son-in-law Jared Kushner and granddaughter Arabella Kushner.
The crowd’s reaction to Trump varied throughout the match. When he initially appeared before the half-empty venue, he received a mix of whistles and boos. During the pre-match national anthem, Trump stood saluting alongside Rolex CEO Jean-Frederic Dufour. When shown on the video boards midway through the anthem, he again drew a combination of boos and cheers from spectators.
The most negative reaction occurred after the first set ended. When Trump appeared on the big screen during the break, he was met with what observers described as near-deafening derision from sections of the crowd. Despite the loud jeers and piercing whistles, Trump displayed a smirk with pursed lips and raised his left fist in salute as the noise continued throughout the 24,000-capacity stadium.
The United States Tennis Association had circulated a memo to broadcasters before the match requesting they “refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the president’s attendance in any capacity.” The directive sparked controversy among media observers who characterized it as an inappropriate attempt at censorship.
Despite the USTA’s request, some networks did not fully comply with the directive. ABC and ESPN, which broadcast and livestreamed the match respectively, allowed audio of the crowd’s reaction to remain audible during their coverage. Nancy Armour of USA Today noted that the networks refused to kowtow, stating the jeers and catcalls were clearly audible during their broadcasts.
Former British tennis player Laura Robson, working as a courtside reporter for Sky Sports, defied the directive by commenting on the crowd’s reaction. During the first set, Robson stated, “They’ve just shown Trump on the big screen, lots of boos.” Tennis legend Martina Navratilova also criticized the security delays on social media, expressing frustration that the final was postponed due to Trump’s attendance.
A USTA spokesperson defended the organization’s actions, explaining they regularly ask broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions. The spokesperson acknowledged fan frustration over entrance delays, noting that communications were sent to ticket holders on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning warning of TSA-style security screening and urging early arrival.
Trump’s presence affected both spectators and players. The additional security measures required Alcaraz and Sinner to arrive early Sunday morning, potentially disrupting their pre-match preparations. As the match entered its third game, fans were still entering the stadium and finding their seats, with many upper-tier spaces remaining empty.
Following the match, Trump characterized his reception positively when speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. He indicated the fans were great and expressed surprise at the positive reaction from what he described as a typically progressive crowd. Trump acknowledged he had not attended the tournament in recent years because it had become more difficult to do so.
This marked Trump’s first US Open appearance since September 2015, when he was loudly booed at a quarterfinals match months after launching his first presidential campaign. The Trump Organization had previously controlled its own suite adjacent to the television broadcasting booth in Arthur Ashe Stadium but suspended it in 2017 during his first presidential term.
Sources:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/nancy-armour/2025/09/07/abc-espn-air-boos-donald-trump-us-open/86031530007/
https://apnews.com/article/trump-us-open-sporting-events-boos-5a80b02c78403f1f2f87a30852ffb0f5
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/07/usta-trump-censorship-us-open-booing
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-open-trump-boo-1.7627670
https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/46184633/trump-attending-us-open-rolex-guest-boos-not-seen-tv
