President Donald Trump's unexpected arrival at the US Open tennis final on Sunday caused a significant upheaval, both in terms of security logistics and crowd reactions at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City. The 79-year-old President landed in the Big Apple, proceeding to Queens for the highly anticipated match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at Flushing Meadows.
Originally scheduled to start at 2:00 PM, the match was postponed to 2:30 PM to accommodate the heightened security measures necessitated by President Trump's presence. The United States Tennis Association, in anticipation of possible protests or negative reactions to Trump's attendance, reportedly sent an email to broadcasters, including ESPN and Sky Sports, directing them to refrain from airing any such disturbances.
President Trump emerged from his private suite at the stadium roughly 40 minutes before the final commenced, attending as a guest of the Swiss luxury watchmaker and major sponsor, Rolex. His appearance elicited a mix of cheers and boos from the New York crowd, as captured by various media outlets and social media users.
Accompanying Trump was a large entourage, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Family members such as granddaughter Arabella Kushner and son-in-law Jared Kushner were also present, along with Lindsey Halligan, Special Assistant to the President, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, United States Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, and Margo Martin, Trump’s special assistant and communications advisor.
Outside the arena, chaos ensued as thousands of fans, caught in the intense security protocols, lined up to enter just minutes before the rescheduled start time. The delays led to Sinner and Alcaraz beginning the final in front of several empty seats, a situation that Daily Mail reporter Matthew Lambwell described as "total chaos." Security concerns were high, with a US Open insider revealing that potential threats, including "nerve agents and chemical weapons," were considered, although the precautions were not in response to any specific threat against the President.
During the American national anthem, Trump's image on the big screens prompted contrasting reactions from the audience. He was seen smirking and saluting as jeers and applause echoed through the stadium. The mixed responses continued when he was displayed on screens at the end of the first set, which Alcaraz won 6-2.
Since his re-election, President Trump has made several public appearances at sports events, with the US Open final being just one of two he plans to attend in New York in the coming days. He is expected to be present at a New York Yankees game on September 11, coinciding with the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.
In 2015, Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, attended the US Open and faced a predominantly Democratic New York crowd's boos while watching Serena Williams triumph over Venus Williams. Carlos Alcaraz, after his semifinal victory over Novak Djokovic, commented on Trump's expected attendance, expressing that while it was an honor, he would endeavor to keep his focus on the game and not on the distinguished spectator.
