A smirking Donald Trump[1] received a mixed reception from the New York City[2] crowd after his arrival for Jannik Sinner[3] and Carlos Alcaraz[4]‘s US Open tennis[5] final sparked security chaos at Flushing Meadows.
The President touched down in the Big Apple on Sunday afternoon and made his way to Queens ahead of Sinner’s highly anticipated showdown with great rival Alcaraz at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the sport’s titanic duo contested an unprecedented third Grand Slam final against one another this calendar year.
On the eve of the match – which was delayed from 2pm to 2:30pm due to increased security measures[6] – the United States Tennis Association sent out an email to broadcasters, including ESPN and Sky Sports, stating that they must censor any protests or reactions to his attendance.
Roughly 40 minutes before the start of Sunday’s final, Trump emerged from his private suite at Arthur Ashe, where he was a guest of Swiss luxury watch brand and major sponsor Rolex, to a mixture of cheers and boos from fans in attendance.
Organizers would later apologize on Sunday night to fans impacted by the delays, saying: ‘We understand the frustration of fans that were delayed in their entrance to Arthur Ashe Stadium. The added security protocols were put in place by the United States Secret Service. We took several steps to make this process as seamless as possible and educate our attendees on the potential delays in advance of their arrival.
The 79-year-old was joined by a large entourage, which included Attorney General Pam Bondi, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt[7], White House[8] Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, granddaughter Arabella Kushner and son-in-law Jared Kushner[9].
Donald Trump was greeted with cheers and boos when he arrived at the US Open final Sunday
Meanwhile, chaos occurred outside the arena as thousands of fans lined up to enter amid increased security measures outside Arthur Ashe Stadium
Trump was a guest of Rolex at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Jannik Sinner faces Carlos Alcaraz
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Lindsey Halligan, a lawyer currently working as special assistant to the president, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, United States Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Margo Martin, Trump’s special assistant and communications advisor, were also alongside him.
Meanwhile, chaos occurred outside the arena as thousands of fans lined up to enter just minutes before the rearranged start time amid intense security procedures, meaning Sinner and Alcaraz began Sunday’s final in front of several empty seats.
Daily Mail reporter Matthew Lambwell, who was also on the ground in Queens, said about the frantic scenes before the match got underway: ‘This is total chaos here. Lines are absolutely insane. They will either have to delay again or start with hardly anyone in.’
A US Open insider also told the Daily Mail[10] ahead of Mr Trump’s appearance that nerve agents and chemical weapons were among potential threats at Flushing Meadows.[11]
‘We’ve been scoping out the area with our colleagues in the CIA and taking precautions in the event of an attack using chemical weapons or nerve agents,’ the source said.
However, those security preparations are said to be precautionary and are not understood to relate to any specific threat made against the commander-in-chief.
‘For the final to be postponed because of this is absolutely insane,’ said Martina Navratilova, a Trump critic, on Sky Sports UK television coverage. ‘People have paid thousands of dollars for these tickets. It was half empty at the start, normally this place would be rocking.’
The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, a fierce Trump detractor, suggested he might not be welcome back at the US Open. ‘This might not be happening again in the future. The USTA will say, “No, thank you”.’
As the American national anthem was played before the match, Trump’s emergence on the big screens in Arthur Ashe again triggered a contrasting response from the crowd, with some showing their disdain for the President and others heard applauding.
The President emerged from his private suite roughly 40 minutes from the start of the final
Trump attended Sunday’s final with a large entourage which included Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (far left), Attorney General Pam Bondi (third from left), granddaughter Arabella Kushner (second from right) and son-in-law Jared Kushner (right)
Fans were torn over his attendance, with some subjecting him to boos and others cheering
Trump was shown on the big screens during The Star-Spangled Banner
Trump was seen chatting with Bondi and special envoy Steve Witkoff prior to the final
When some jeers were initially heard, Trump could be seen smirking while continuing to salute during The Star-Spangled Banner. He was also showered with boos and cheers when he was shown at the end of the first set, which Alcaraz won 6-2.
As the second set got underway, hundreds of frustrated spectators – who likely parted with mammoth sums to be here – were still waiting to get through TSA-style security checks introduced solely because of Trump’s presence and get what they paid for. The USTA will likely be flooded with requests for refunds as a result.
Trump then watched on as Sinner claimed the second set 6-3 to level proceedings, before Alcaraz stormed into a 3-0 lead in the third.
It was at that point when the President and his entourage made their way to the inside section of Rolex’s suite, where they appeared to sit down and enjoy a late lunch for roughly 45 minutes.
Following their mid-match schmoozing, the group eventually reemerged after Alcaraz had ran out a dominant 6-1 winner in the third set and then broken Sinner’s serve to take a 3-2 lead in the fourth. The outstanding new world No 1 went on to seal a 6-4 victory and his second Grand Slam title of the year as Trump marveled at the match-winning ace which got him over the line.
There was no on-court appearance for him, nevertheless, much to the disappointment of those hoping to witness another viral Trump trophy presentation months on from his awkward interaction with Chelsea soccer players at the Club World Cup final in New Jersey. But this was no snub given he was invited by Rolex rather than the USTA.
Alcaraz went on to win his second Grand Slam title of the year in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory
Trump was not involved in the post-match presentation and instead signed some autographs
He was seen throwing a signed MAGA hat back to one spectator sitting below him in the arena
Instead, he signed a host of autographs to adoring fans below him in the arena, before applauding as Alcaraz and Sinner conducted their post-match speeches after yet another enthralling battle.
Since being re-elected Trump has made sport a huge part of his second term, with Sunday’s US Open final between Sinner and Alcaraz the first of two events he will attend in the Big Apple over the coming days.
After the tennis showpiece, he is also expected to be at Yankee Stadium on September 11 – the anniversary of the 9/11[12] terror attack on the city. That night, the playoff-chasing New York Yankees [13]will host the Detroit Tigers[14].
Trump was met with a chorus of boos when he last attended the US Open with wife Melania in a majority-Democrat New York back in 2015.
The then-GOP presidential front-runner was heavily jeered when he arrived to watch top-ranked Serena Williams defeat her older sister, Venus, in the women’s singles quarterfinals.
After beating Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, Alcaraz was quizzed on the prospect of Trump watching his battle with Sinner, and the Spaniard admitted he was trying to put it to the back of his mind.
The commander-in-chief and his entourage had the best seats in the house for the final
Anti-Trump protestors were seen outside the stadium before Sunday’s tennis showpiece
He boarded his Air Force One jet and made his way to New York earlier in the afternoon
Trump was jeered when he last attended the major tennis tournament with wife Melania in 2015
‘It is a privilege for the tournaments having the president from every country just to support the tournament, to support tennis, and to support the match,’ he initially told reporters about the US president’s plans to attend the final.
‘For me, playing in front of him… to be honest, I will try not to think about it. I don’t want… to be nervous because of it.
‘But I think attending the tennis match, it’s great for tennis to have the president [at] the final.’
Once his Yankees appearance is complete, Trump will turn his sporting focus to the Ryder Cup after it was confirmed that he will be at the first day of the golf tournament on September 26 at Bethpage, New York.
He was also spotted at the FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, just outside of the Big Apple, in July, leaving victorious Chelsea players baffled when he remained on stage during their trophy lift.
Five months earlier, the President attended the Super Bowl as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans, Louisiana.
References
- ^ Donald Trump (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ New York City (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Jannik Sinner (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Carlos Alcaraz (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ US Open tennis (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ was delayed from 2pm to 2:30pm due to increased security measures (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Karoline Leavitt (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ White House (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Jared Kushner (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ US Open insider also told the Daily Mail (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ 9/11 (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Detroit Tigers (www.dailymail.co.uk)