President Donald Trump faced a chorus of boos from spectators during his appearance at the US Open men’s singles final on September 7, 2025, marking his first return to the tournament in nearly a decade. The president’s attendance at Arthur Ashe Stadium created significant disruptions, with enhanced security measures causing lengthy delays and forcing hundreds of fans to miss the opening of the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Trump attended the final as a guest of tournament sponsor Rolex, despite his administration having recently imposed a 39 percent tariff on Swiss products. The president was accompanied by several high-ranking officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and family members Jared Kushner and his daughter Arabella Kushner.
The match’s scheduled 2:00 p.m. start time was delayed by 37 minutes due to extensive Secret Service security protocols that created massive bottlenecks at stadium entrances. Spectators reported waiting in lines that stretched nearly to the entrance of the Flushing Meadows complex, with many describing the security measures as more stringent than airport screening procedures.
When Trump first appeared briefly before the half-empty venue, he received a mixed reaction of whistles and boos. The negative response intensified during the national anthem when he was shown on the video boards, drawing another round of boos mixed with some cheers. However, the most pronounced negative reaction occurred after the first set concluded, when Trump appeared on the big screen and was met with what observers described as deafening jeers and piercing whistles from the 24,000-capacity stadium.
The United States Tennis Association had issued a controversial directive to broadcasters ahead of the final, requesting that they “refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the president’s attendance in any capacity.” However, several broadcasters, including ABC and ESPN, chose not to comply with this request and allowed the crowd’s reaction to be heard on their broadcasts.
Former British tennis player Laura Robson defied the USTA directive during her role as courtside reporter for Sky Sports, commenting on the crowd’s reaction when Trump appeared on screen. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova also criticized the security arrangements on social media, expressing frustration that the stadium remained half-empty well into the match due to the lengthy entry process.
The security measures affected not only spectators but also the players themselves. Both Alcaraz and Sinner were required to arrive at the venue much earlier than usual to accommodate the additional security protocols, potentially disrupting their normal pre-match preparations.
Despite the visible and audible negative reaction from much of the crowd, Trump characterized his reception positively when speaking to reporters upon his return to Joint Base Andrews. He indicated that he enjoyed himself and described the fans as great, noting that he had expected a more challenging reception from what he termed a “somewhat progressive” crowd.
The president acknowledged that attending such events has become “a little bit more difficult” in recent years. Trump had been a regular US Open attendee for many years but had not returned since September 2015, when he was loudly booed at a quarterfinals match just months after launching his first presidential campaign.
The USTA defended its security arrangements, stating that communications were sent to ticket holders on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning warning of potential delays and urging early arrival. The organization also recommended that attendees use mass transit when possible. A USTA spokesperson noted that they had taken several steps to make the security process as seamless as possible while accommodating the Secret Service requirements.
The controversy over broadcast coverage sparked debate about media censorship and democratic expression. Critics argued that the USTA’s request represented an inappropriate attempt at censorship, while defenders of the broadcasters’ decision to air the crowd reaction emphasized the importance of showing authentic public response to political figures.
The incident highlighted the ongoing polarization surrounding Trump’s public appearances, with the US Open representing a departure from his typical appearances at more friendly venues such as UFC events and certain college football games. The tennis tournament, held in the historically Democratic state of New York, provided a different demographic environment than Trump’s usual sporting event choices.
A White House official confirmed that any request for censorship of crowd reactions did not originate from the administration itself. The USTA maintained that asking broadcasters to avoid showcasing disruptions was part of their regular policy, though critics pointed out that the organization had previously allowed extensive coverage of other disruptions, including climate protesters and various fan disturbances throughout the tournament’s history.
