Donald Trump appeared visibly rattled on Sunday after receiving a loud wave of boos during the Washington Commanders vs. Detroit Lions game in Maryland. The 79-year-old attended the matchup at Northwest Stadium, where the Commanders lost 44–22. But the real headline came when Trump was shown on the Jumbotron late in the first half. Spectators erupted into boos, and the reaction grew even louder when the stadium announcer introduced him at halftime.
“We’re gonna have a good game… The country’s doing well,” Trump said, avoiding any mention of the record-breaking government shutdown that has disrupted food stamp benefits for nearly 42 million Americans. The Washington, D.C., area heavily leans Democratic, and many federal workers affected by government cuts live near the stadium—making Trump’s appearance especially charged.The reaction also followed reports that Trump wants the Commanders’ future $3.7 billion, 65,000-seat stadium—set to open in 2030—named after him. A White House official told ESPN, “It’s what the president wants,” while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it “a beautiful name.” Online, the crowd’s response quickly went viral.
“Oh he was rattled, you could barely hear him,” one user wrote. Others called it the loudest booing Trump has ever received. “That moment when the smile drops,” another commented. “The boos were LOUD.” This marks the first time in nearly 50 years that a sitting president has attended a regular-season NFL game, the last being Jimmy Carter.
