President Donald Trump appeared at a Washington Commanders game on Sunday, becoming the first president in nearly 50 years to attend a regular-season NFL game.
He was booed loudly by some fans when he was shown on a screen late in the first half, according to The Associated Press. The boos continued while he read an oath for members of the military to recite as part of a ceremony during a break in the game.
There were scattered cheers as well, according to The Guardian.
A White House pool report called the reaction to Trump’s appearance in a booth window a “near-deafening roar,” as people cheered, booed, gave a thumbs down or middle fingers and clapped, according to USA Today.
Trump spent about 10 minutes in the Fox broadcast booth during the game, where he spoke about his high school football career and called some of the action, according to The Guardian.
Trump left the game before it ended. The Commanders lost to the Detroit Lions 44-22.
The Washington area is heavily Democratic and Sunday wasn’t the first time Trump got a hostile reception at a sporting event there, according to The Guardian. When he appeared at the Washington Nationals stadium during the 2019 World Series, he was greeted with chants of “lock him up.”
Trump became only the third president to attend an NFL game during the regular season while in office, according to AP. Richard Nixon was the first in 1969, followed by Jimmy Carter in 1978.
Trump’s appearance at the game followed a report by ESPN on Saturday on his desire to have the new Commanders stadium named in his honor.
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