Washington Commanders fans made their feelings loud and clear on Sunday when President Donald Trump appeared on the Jumbotron during halftime of the team’s Week 10 matchup against the Detroit Lions. The boos echoed throughout the stadium as Trump, attending from a luxury suite, participated in a halftime ceremony to swear in new military service members.
The reaction from the crowd was nearly unanimous, drawing attention across social media as video clips of the moment quickly went viral. The timing of Trump’s appearance comes amid growing national frustration, as the U.S. government shutdown has now stretched past the 40-day mark.
Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has taken an unusual interest in the Commanders franchise. Over the summer, he publicly threatened to block funding for a new stadium unless the team reverted to its former name. More recently, reports have surfaced claiming he wants the team’s next stadium named after him. Neither proposal appears to have any realistic chance of happening.
Sunday marked the first time a sitting U.S. president attended an NFL game since 1978. Trump’s presence at major sporting events has become increasingly frequent—he’s previously attended the Ryder Cup, the Daytona 500, and the U.S. Open tennis tournament.
Meanwhile, the Commanders struggled mightily on the field. Trailing 35–16 entering the fourth quarter, Washington appeared headed for another loss that would drop the team to 3–7 on the season. The offense has sputtered in the absence of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is expected to miss at least three to six weeks with a left elbow injury suffered in Week 9.
Until Daniels returns, the Commanders are in full survival mode—both on and off the field.
