President Donald Trump made his much-anticipated return to the U.S. Open men’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York, on September 7, 2025, and—true to form—his presence sparked a raucous blend of boos, cheers, and logistical headaches. Trump, who had not attended the tournament since 2015, arrived at the iconic venue as a guest of Rolex, accompanied by a cadre of White House officials and family members. His appearance set the stage for a dramatic afternoon, both on and off the court.
The men’s final, featuring Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner, was already a marquee matchup, but Trump’s attendance added an extra layer of intrigue and tension. Security measures for the president’s visit were extensive, causing long lines and delays that left thousands of fans waiting outside even after the match began. The start time was pushed back by half an hour, with organizers hoping to give everyone a chance to get through the enhanced screening. Despite their best efforts, many seats—especially in the upper rows—remained empty for nearly an hour as frustrated ticket holders trickled in.
Trump’s arrival was anything but subtle. Wearing his signature suit and long red tie, the president briefly emerged from his suite about 45 minutes before play began. The stadium, still filling up, responded with a loud mix of boos and cheers, though the jeers clearly dominated. There was no official announcement, and some attendees only realized Trump was present when he appeared on the jumbotron during the National Anthem. Standing in salute as a West Point cadet performed The Star-Spangled Banner, Trump offered a brief smirk—an expression that seemed to amplify the negative reaction from the crowd. According to the Associated Press, "he offered a smirk that briefly made the boos louder."
After the anthem, Trump pointed to a small group of supporters nearby and settled in on the suite’s balcony. Throughout the match, he generally refrained from applauding—even after major points that electrified the crowd. When the cameras caught him again after the first set, the boos and whistles grew even louder. Unfazed, Trump responded with a raised left fist in salute, a gesture that only prolonged the uproar. The president later retreated inside his suite, where he was seen conversing with family members and officials, but he returned to his seat before the match’s conclusion.
Trump’s entourage for the day was a veritable who’s who of his administration and inner circle. Joining him in the Rolex suite were White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. The group watched intently as Alcaraz and Sinner battled on the court, but the spotlight often drifted back to the president and the reactions he provoked from the crowd.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) was doing damage control behind the scenes. In a memo to broadcasters, the USTA requested that media partners "refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions" or crowd reactions related to Trump’s presence. ESPN and ABC, which were televising the event nationally, largely complied, but the president’s brief appearances on the big screen—and the audible crowd responses—were impossible to ignore. Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg noted that while there were some claps, the boos were far more prominent.
For Trump, the U.S. Open is more than just a sporting event—it’s a homecoming of sorts. Born in Queens, the president was once a regular at the tournament, often sitting in his company’s suite and relishing the attention from fans and cameras alike. However, the mood in New York has shifted since his first presidential campaign in 2015, when he was also booed at the Open. As one longtime attendee put it, "Trump has historically been booed here."
This year, Trump’s attendance came with a twist: he was in the Rolex suite as a guest, despite having imposed a hefty 39% tariff on Swiss products earlier in the year—a move that hit the luxury watchmaker’s home country particularly hard. The White House declined to comment on the apparent contradiction, but it didn’t go unnoticed by fans and commentators.
The match itself was a showcase of top-tier tennis, with Carlos Alcaraz ultimately besting Jannik Sinner. While the on-court action was riveting, the off-court spectacle surrounding Trump often threatened to steal the show. Not all the attention was negative, though. A scattering of protestors gathered outside the grounds, distributing flyers and hoisting signs with slogans like “GAME, SET, MATCH! NOV 5, FLOOD DC. TRUMP MUST GO!” But inside the stadium, most fans focused on the tennis, even as they made their feelings known about the president.
The Secret Service later issued a statement acknowledging the impact of the enhanced security: "Protecting Trump required a comprehensive effort and may have contributed to delays for attendees. We sincerely thank every fan for their patience and understanding." The logistical headaches were an unavoidable part of the day, but for many, they were a small price to pay for the chance to witness both world-class tennis and a political spectacle.
Trump’s visit to the U.S. Open is part of a broader pattern in his second term, with the president opting to attend major sports events rather than traditional policy stops or campaign rallies. In the past year alone, he’s made appearances at the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, UFC fights, the NCAA wrestling championships, and the FIFA Club World Cup final. The reception at these events has varied—sometimes cheers, sometimes boos—but the polarization is unmistakable.
As the final points played out and Alcaraz celebrated his victory, cameras briefly flashed on Trump one last time. His reaction was as subdued as it had been throughout the match, and this time, the crowd offered little response. The day’s drama, both on and off the court, gradually faded as fans filed out of Arthur Ashe Stadium, reflecting on a final that was memorable for reasons that went well beyond the baseline.
Trump’s return to the U.S. Open may not have been the triumphant homecoming he once enjoyed, but it certainly left an impression. For tennis fans and political observers alike, it was a day when sport and spectacle collided—a reminder that in New York, at least, the lines between the two are as blurry as ever.
