Donald Trump massively booed during Commanders-Lions NFL game - WATCH

Donald Trump made history on Sunday as the first sitting US president in nearly 50 years to attend a regular-season NFL game, watching the Washington Commanders fall 44-22 to the visiting Detroit Lions. When Trump appeared on the jumbotron late in the first half - standing alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson - many spectators responded with loud boos, which grew even louder when he was introduced at halftime. The jeers persisted as Trump led an oath for new military recruits during an on-field enlistment ceremony.


According to the NFL, only two sitting presidents have previously attended a regular-season game - Richard Nixon in 1969 and Jimmy Carter in 1978. Earlier this year, Trump also made history by becoming the first president to attend a Super Bowl while in office, watching the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in February.


"I’m a little bit late,” Trump spoke briefly to reporters, as quoted by AP, after stepping off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, following a flyover of Northwest Stadium during the game. He then entered his armored vehicle for the drive to the arena.

“We’re gonna have a good game. Things are going along very well. The country’s doing well. The Democrats have to open it up,” Trump said in a reference to the government shutdown.


During Trump’s first term, tensions flared between him and the NFL over players kneeling during the national anthem to protest social and racial injustice - a movement started in 2016 by then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Trump frequently criticized the demonstrations on social media and in public remarks, demanding that players stand for the anthem and urging team owners to dismiss anyone who refused.