President-elect Donald Trump is at Northwest Field in Landover, Maryland, for the 125th annual Army-Navy Football Match.
Vice President Elect J.D. VancePresident of the House Mike Johnsonchoice of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbardcould all be seen saluting from a stadium box alongside the president-elect.
The stands were packed and loud cheers went up when Trump was shown on the stadium’s video boards. The president-elect’s presence added extra weight to the tradition and pomp that precedes the rivalry game between the nation’s military academies.
“USA” chants broke out when members of the crowd spotted Trump in his suite near midfield. Students from both military academies applauded wildly when it was shown.
The president-elect was also in attendance at the tech billionaire’s game on Saturday. Elon Musk — Trump confidant set to co-lead his new Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) — new Senate majority leader John Thuneand GOP senator-elect Dave McCormick from Pennsylvania.
Vance made headlines Friday by also inviting Daniel Pennya former Marine, to accompany him to the presidential suite. Penny was widely embraced by right-wing political figures after she was accused of fatally choking Jordan Neely on a New York subway, and many celebrated her acquittal on Monday. It is not yet clear whether Penny is part of the retinue of Trump and his allies.
A series of senior Biden administration officials, including the defense secretary Lloyd Austin and the general. CQ Brownthe chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is also present at the match which started a short time ago.
This is Trump’s fifth time in this confrontation: three times as president, and twice now as president-elect. The two teams face off at the home of the NFL’s Washington Commanders.
This article has been updated with additional details about Trump and his allies’ participation in the game.