Commanders Fans Boo Trump While He Swears In New U.S. Troops During ‘Salute To Service’ Game. Watch out

Commanders Fans Boo Trump While He Swears In New U.S. Troops During ‘Salute To Service’ Game. Read more

## Donald J. Trump Booed by Fans at Washington Commanders Game During ‘Salute to Service’ Ceremony

On Sunday, November 9, 2025, President Donald J. Trump made a headline-grabbing appearance at the Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders game at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland — the first time a sitting U.S. President had attended a regular-season NFL game in nearly 50 years.

### The Event & Ceremony

As part of the NFL’s “Salute to Service” initiative, President Trump took the field during halftime to administer the military Oath of Enlistment to newly-sworn U.S. troops. ([Sports Illustrated][2]) He was flanked by senior officials and stood before a packed stadium crowd. ([Mediaite][3])

### The Crowd’s Response

What followed was a loud and sustained chorus of boos from the stands when Trump’s image appeared on the videoboard, and even more so during his address and the oath-taking. ([Sports Illustrated][2]) Some fans held up middle fingers. ([Sports Illustrated][2])

Regional context matters: the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia region leans strongly Democratic, and Trump’s prior policies — including federal workforce and spending decisions — helped spark the crowd’s negative reaction. ([Mediaite][3])

### Why This Matters

* Symbolically, the appearance marked a notable moment: only two other sitting presidents (Richard Nixon in 1969 and Jimmy Carter in 1978) had attended regular-season NFL games while in office. ([Newsweek][1])
* The event raises questions about the mixing of high-profile politics, military ceremonies and live-sports entertainment. Some fans and commentators viewed the booing as a political statement; others argued it risked disrespecting the enlisted troops being sworn in. ([OutKick][4])
* The incident also occurred amid reports that President Trump had pressed the Commanders’ ownership to name their forthcoming stadium after him — a development that many believed helped fuel the crowd’s reaction. ([Inquisitr News][5])

### Reactions

* Conservative commentators sharply criticized the crowd’s behavior. One noted:

> “Wow. Doesn’t get much more disrespectful than this. Fans can be heard booing President Trump during the swearing in of US military members…” ([news.meaww.com][6])
* From the team’s side, the Commanders’ president issued a more measured statement:

> “We are honored to welcome President Trump to the game as we celebrate those who have served and continue to serve our country. The entire Commanders organization is proud to participate in the NFL’s league-wide Salute to Service initiative.” ([On3][7])
* Among fans, sentiment varied: some saw the boos as a justified political reaction; others lamented that the troops being sworn in might perceive the reaction as directed at them instead of the President. ([OutKick][4])

### Final Take

What was intended as a patriotic halftime ceremony at a major sports event instead turned into a loud public rebuke of President Trump. While the troops took their oath as planned, the spectacle morphed into a display of the polarized political climate in America and the uneasy intersection of sports, military pageantry and partisan overtones.