Copyright M Live Michigan
LANDOVER, Md. – For the first time in 47 years, a sitting U.S. President attended a regular-season NFL game, and the reaction he received was a bit mixed. As part of a special Veterans’ Day celebration, President Donald Trump was in attendance for the Detroit Lions versus Washington Commanders Week 10 matchup at Northwest Stadium in Landover. When Trump first appeared on the stadium’s video board – standing in a suite with House Speaker Mike Johnson – some fans in attendance showered him with boos. Trump later appeared on screen again at halftime time, receiving a mixed reaction, with the crowd still leaning more toward boos as he read an oath for members of the military to recite as part of an on-field ceremony. Before President Trump’s arrival, Lions’ wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had a playful nod to the Commander-in-Chief toward the end of the first quarter. With 1:54 left in the period, St. Brown caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Shortly after, St. Brown, accompanied by Sam LaPorta and Jameson Williams, celebrated the score with the “Trump Dance.” Trump’s appearance during the game also marks the first time a sitting U.S. President has witnessed the Lions play in person and the third one to attend an NFL game in general. Richard Nixon attended an NFL game in 1969, and Jimmy Carter did in 1978. After Pat McAfee announced President Trump’s appearance on his Pat McAfee Show in the days leading up to the game, Trump made additional headlines after an intermediary from the White House shared with the Commanders’ ownership group that he would like the team’s new stadium in the nation’s capital to be named after him. President Trump’s appearance at Sunday’s game at Northwest Stadium marked the second time this year he attended a professional sports event in person involving a Detroit franchise. As part of the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept 11, 2001, Trump was in attendance for the Detroit Tigers-New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees went on to win that game 9-3. Here is the video of President Donald Trump speaking at halftime:
