President Donald Trump has become the first sitting U.S. president to attend a regular NFL game since 1978. Trump appeared at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on 10 November 2025 to watch the Washington Commanders face the Detroit Lions.
The President arrived on Air Force One, which flew over the stadium before landing at Joint Base Andrews. Only two other presidents have attended regular-season NFL games during their time in office: Richard Nixon in 1969 and Jimmy Carter nearly 50 years ago.
First Sitting President at NFL Match Joins Commentators During Broadcast
As Donald Trump attends NFL game 2025 broadcasts became more engaging when he joined Fox commentators Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma in the booth. He spoke with them for about eight minutes, discussing his days playing football at New York Military Academy.
Figure 1: Figure 1: NFL logo painted
Trump said he played tight end during his school years. He shared his views on former quarterback Drew Brees, saying, “He threw a ball you could catch. I would have liked him as a quarterback.” The first U.S. president at NFL match also tried calling a play, commenting on a Commanders running play that gained three yards.
Trump’s Historic NFL Appearance Draws Mixed Crowd Reactions
Trump’s historic NFL appearance received mixed reactions from fans in the stands. When Trump appeared on the screen in the first half, standing in a suite with House Speaker Mike Johnson, many people in the crowd booed.
The booing continued at halftime when the stadium announcer introduced the President. Trump participated in a military ceremony on the field, reading an oath for service members who were enlisting.
Donald Trump Attends NFL Game 2025 Amid Stadium Naming Discussions
The presidential visit comes at an interesting time. Just a day before, ESPN reported that Donald Trump wants the Commanders’ new stadium to be named after him. According to the report, a White House representative has already mentioned this to the team’s owners.
Figure 2: President Donald Trump waves to the crowd
Josh Harris bought the Commanders from Daniel Snyder for about USD 6 billion in 2023. His group is now working on building a new stadium at the old RFK Stadium site. The project will cost at least USD 3.7 billion. The team is contributing USD 2.7 billion, and the city of Washington will add USD 1 billion.
Discusses His Role in Stadium Plans
During his time on Fox, Trump spoke about the new stadium project. “They’re going to build a beautiful stadium. That’s what I’m involved in, we’re getting all the approvals and everything else,” he said. He praised Harris and the ownership team, saying fans would see “very good things” coming.
The Commanders played at RFK Stadium from 1961 to 1996. During those years, they won three Super Bowls. The old stadium began demolition earlier this year to make way for the new facility.
Why Trump Enjoys Sports
When asked why he attends sporting events, Trump had a clear answer. He called sports “a microcosm of life.” He explained: “You have the triumph and you have the problems, and you have to get through the problems to hit the triumphs.”
Figure 3: Fans react from the stands
This was not Trump’s first major sports event as president. Donald Trump attends NFL game “following his appearance at the Super Bowl in February. That made him the first sitting president to attend the championship game. He watched the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 44-22.
A Personal Reflection on the Spirit of Sports
The game saw the Detroit Lions defeating the Commanders 44-22. Before Trump arrived, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown scored a touchdown and celebrated with the “Trump dance”, pointing to the crowd and moving his arms in a move that has become popular with athletes.
After the game, St. Brown said, “I heard Trump was going to be at the game. I don’t know how many times the president’s going to be at the game, so I just decided to have some fun.” Lions coach Dan Campbell said, “You’re talking about the president of the United States. That’s a big deal.”
Other Notable Attendees
Trump watched the game with several officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and Senator Steve Daines from Montana. House Speaker Mike Johnson also joined him in the suite.
Before the game began, Hegseth visited with Harris and did a ceremonial coin drop on the field with several members of the military. The President’s trip needed high levels of security planning, with his vehicle taking him from the air base to the stadium.
Trump’s Recent Sports Appearances
The U.S. president is the first at an NFL game and has attended other major sporting events. In addition to NFL games, Trump has appeared at golf’s Ryder Cup, the Daytona 500 car race and the US Open tennis tournament. He has attended both of these events shows his continued interest in American sports.
Trump left before the game ended. Lions quarterback Jared Goff noted seeing Air Force One fly over the stadium, saying, “Awesome that he was here.”
Historic NFL Visit Ends 47-Year Gap in Presidential Attendance
Trump’s historic NFL appearance breaks a 47-year drought since a president has been to a regular-season game. These visits are rare, likely because of the security requirements and planning involved.
Figure 4: Players line up for action during NFL match
Nixon attended a game in 1969, then Carter in 1978, and now Trump in 2025. That’s just three times in over 50 years, showing how uncommon these visits are.
What Comes Next
Donald Trump attends NFL game 2025, and this could lead to more presidential appearances at sports events. With Trump involved in the stadium approvals and planning, there is a clear connection between the White House and the Commanders franchise.
This visit to Northwest Stadium will be remembered as a significant moment where politics and sports intersected. Whether other presidents will follow remains to be seen.
FAQs
Q1. When was the last time a sitting president attended an NFL regular-season game before Trump?
Jimmy Carter, in 1978, was the last sitting president to attend a regular-season NFL game before Donald Trump attends NFL game 2025.
Q2. What was the final score of the Commanders vs Lions game?
The Detroit Lions defeated the Washington Commanders 44-22 on 10 November 2025.
Q3. How much will the new Commanders stadium cost?
The new stadium project will cost at least USD 3.7 billion, with the team paying USD 2.7 billion and the district contributing USD 1 billion.
Q4. Did Trump stay for the entire game?
No, Trump left Northwest Stadium before the game ended.
Q5. Who else has attended NFL games as a sitting president?
Only Richard Nixon in 1969 and Jimmy Carter in 1978 attended regular-season NFL games during their time in office.
