A Presidential First in Nearly 50 Years
President Donald Trump was poised to make history on Sunday, planning to become the first sitting US president to attend a regular-season NFL game since 1978. The significant political and sporting event was set to take place at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, where the Washington Commanders hosted the Detroit Lions.
Enhanced Security and Political Undertones
In anticipation of the President's arrival, extraordinary security measures were implemented hours before the kickoff. Officers from the U.S. Secret Service, identifiable by their black uniforms, worked alongside military personnel and local police, both inside and outside the stadium. The security perimeter was visibly reinforced with more fencing than usual, restricting access to certain pathways and sidewalks.
This visit marks a notable moment in the complex relationship between Trump and the National Football League. During his first term, friction emerged over players kneeling during the national anthem to protest social and racial injustice—a movement initiated in 2016 by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Trump frequently used social media to insist that players stand for the anthem and called on team owners to fire those who took a knee.
According to the NFL, only two other presidents have attended a regular-season game while in office: Richard Nixon in 1969 and Jimmy Carter in 1978. Trump previously made history by being the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, watching the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in February.
Stadium Naming and a Series of Sporting Appearances
For this high-profile game, President Trump was expected to sit with Josh Harris, the principal owner who led a group that purchased the Commanders from Daniel Snyder for a staggering $6 billion in 2023. The event also carried potential political and commercial implications. A report by ESPN on Saturday suggested that an intermediary for the White House had informed the Commanders' ownership group that Trump wants the club's new stadium—a nearly $4 billion project on the site of the old RFK Stadium in the nation's capital—to bear his name.
When questioned, press secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked, "That would surely be a beautiful name."
This appearance is the latest in a string of Trump's visits to major sporting events, which have included golf's Ryder Cup, auto racing's Daytona 500, and tennis's U.S. Open. The Commanders used the occasion to honour the NFL's league-wide Salute to Service initiative. Commanders club president Mark Clouse stated, "We are honored to welcome President Trump to the game as we celebrate those who have served and continue to serve our country."
