President-elect Donald Trump attended the highly anticipated 125th Army-Navy football game at Northwest Field in Landover, Maryland, adding an extra layer of prominence to the storied tradition. The rivalry game between the nation’s two service academies drew a packed crowd, with cheers erupting as Trump appeared on the stadium’s video boards. Chants of “U-S-A” filled the air as attendees recognized the president-elect seated in a prominent suite near midfield.
Accompanying Trump were several high-profile figures, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for defense secretary. Tulsi Gabbard, his pick for director of national intelligence, also joined the group, all of whom were seen waving enthusiastically to the crowd. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as students from both academies cheered loudly in response.
Joining the festivities were notable political and business leaders. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, set to co-lead Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was in attendance, as were incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Pennsylvania Senator-elect Dave McCormick. Vance made news by inviting Daniel Penny, a former Marine recently acquitted in a controversial case, though it’s unclear if Penny was in the suite with Trump.
In addition to Trump’s entourage, several key figures from the outgoing Biden administration were present, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Their attendance underscored the bipartisan significance of this cherished event.
This marks Trump’s fifth time attending the Army-Navy game—three times as president and twice as president-elect—reflecting his enduring support for the military and its traditions. The game, held at the home stadium of the Washington Commanders, continues to be a powerful symbol of national pride and unity.