What happens when President Trump attends major sports events - and why he does it

On Wednesday afternoon, an email landed from the organizers of the Ryder Cup to those planning to attend the opening day of the golf tournament on Friday, Sept. 26.

The news, as has become familiar to those who watch showpiece sporting events in the United States, was that President Donald Trump would be in attendance and, as such, “enhanced security measures” and “additional restrictions” would be in place.

Golf fans were told to arrive as “early as possible” and warned they should “budget extra time” throughout their day. They should anticipate TSA-style screening points “around the Clubhouse, adjacent grandstand and surrounding areas” at Bethpage Black, Farmingdale.

President Trump’s appearances continue apace. Since returning for a second term in January, he has attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans; UFC fights in Miami and New Jersey; the Daytona 500; the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia; the FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium; and the U.S. Open men’s tennis final.

In a statement, White House spokeswoman Elizabeth Huston told The Athletic: “Sports are at the forefront of American culture, and President Trump loves them as the People’s President.” She went on to describe Trump “as the greatest champion for sports of any president in American history.”

Trump’s interest and presence at live sports predates his presidencies, having previously thrown the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field in 2000, when he also sang “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” He threw the first pitch in a game between the Boston Red Sox and his preferred team, the New York Yankees, at Fenway Park in 2006.

He has been a long-time attendee of the U.S. Open, while he is also a WWE Hall of Famer whose venues hosted two WrestleManias in the 1980s, during a heyday in which he promoted boxing fights featuring Mike Tyson in Atlantic City. In the early 2000s, Trump stepped in to provide his Atlantic City casino as a venue for UFC.

His second presidency, as well as his campaign to return to the White House, saw Trump use the nexus of sport, celebrity and entertainment in order to draw in a wider part of the American electorate, in particular young men. During his campaign, he attended UFC fights in Las Vegas and New York City, as well as the Palmetto Bowl in South Carolina, where he received acclaim. He also appeared on podcasts associated with the ‘manosphere,’ such as Theo Von, Joe Rogan and UFC Unfiltered.

“The audience gets to see him through an unvarnished filter,” his spokesman Steven Cheung told AP during the campaign.

His appearances are partially due to his passion for sports, but politicians have long used the medium as a means to appear relatable to the general public, while Trump has always recognized the power of a crowd and events that draw big ratings on media platforms. He has frequently claimed credit for bringing the World Cup and Olympic Games to the United States, with the 2026 men’s soccer tournament to be shared across the U.S., Canada and Mexico next summer. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Both events were awarded during his first term as president, although his involvement in the World Cup bid was a little more complicated than he sometimes makes it appear.

Trump has since set up a World Cup task force, which he chairs, and has held news briefings in the Oval Office with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, with both the Club World Cup and World Cup trophies appearing in his office at different times.

White House spokeswoman Huston also said that Trump “just stepped up again to save the Ryder Cup.” This followed comments from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt this week, in which she claimed that an executive order signed by Trump last week “prevented a (transit) strike that would have crippled the New York City area ahead of the tournament.” She said the tournament “would not be taking place this year without President Trump’s help.” Trump supporter and golfer Bryson DeChambeau added: “President Trump stepped up and took the action needed to protect this world-class competition.”

Trump’s appearances at sports events, however, have also developed a pattern: anxiety and disruption for security services and event organizers, pomp and pageantry when he shows up, a divided reception from supporters and – most memorably during the Club World Cup final – a central role in celebrations.

This week at the Ryder Cup, New York State Police will be deploying helicopters and drones, and their Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear response team will be on hand to ensure the safety of those present. Ticket holders have been told that gates will open as early as 5am, but spectators have been told that a slew of items will not be permitted.

Trump is expected to arrive shortly before noon on Friday, in time for the second session of matches. The Daily Telegraph previously reported that Trump was asked by the PGA of America to avoid the morning session in order to prevent the 30-minute delays that impacted the U.S. Open final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

Broadcasters were also impacted, having been told to arrive much earlier than usual and directed to leave equipment overnight. The grounds were brimming with Secret Service officials wearing tactical vests, but the intensity of the security operation caused mass delays. Some fans who bought court-side seats missed the whole of the first set.

Trump’s presence inevitably means special measures. When he attended the NCAA Wrestling Championships in March, fans were told to consider different forms of transport. The Wells Fargo Center put out an advisory, encouraging fans to use public transport, ride-share apps or carpool, as well as being told to arrive early and face enhanced security screenings including vehicle inspections.

When Trump this month attended the Yankees game against the Detroit Tigers on the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City, the security presence from multiple authorities was huge, with representation from dozens of Secret Service officials, as well as the Transportation Security Administration and the New York Police Department. Fans were encouraged to arrive three hours before the first pitch and only pocket-sized personal items were allowed to be brought in, with no storage permitted.

Security concerns were further heightened because this game took place the day after the killing of Charlie Kirk. Trump’s appearance at the Yankees game had been pre-planned, with the team (whose president, Randy Levine, is a close friend of Trump’s) being aware of his intention to attend at least one week in advance.

Advance public warning does not make the challenge any easier for security services.

“Public knowledge increases risk,” Steven Rice, who worked for 27 years at the U.S. Department of State, told The Athletic ahead of the Club World Cup final in July. “Announced appearances give adversaries time to plan, conduct surveillance, and exploit vulnerabilities. Public figures attract crowds, complicating protective movement and increasing the chance of disruptions. Announced visits narrow planning options and heighten the threat environment. Layered defences, robust intelligence monitoring, and visible deterrence are critical.”

When Trump become the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl in February, the cost for the hotel bill alone for Secret Service officials exceeded $115,000 for the Presidential Protective Division, according to a Freedom of Information Act request made by Front Office Sports.

Once Trump arrives, attention often turns to the company he is keeping. At the NCAA Wrestling Championships, he was joined by White House officials and Tesla founder Elon Musk, who at that time was running DOGE, the body set up with the intent of reducing government spending.

At the Super Bowl, the family of Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes stopped by to spend time with Trump, while at the U.S. Open, he was a guest of sponsor Rolex rather than the tournament itself. He watched the majority of the final, before heading into the suite during the third set and coming back out towards the end.

At the Club World Cup final, the company was more eye-catching, as NFL icon Tom Brady and media mogul Rupert Murdoch were among those who joined Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino at MetLife Stadium. Leading Qatari politicians and businessmen were also present, although that owed much to the presence of Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain playing in the game.

When at games, Trump takes on different roles. At the Super Bowl, he met with the participants of the honorary coin toss at the New Orleans Superdome, as well as greeting relatives of victims of the New Year’s Day terrorist attack that scarred the city just five weeks earlier, in addition to police department and emergency personnel.

At the Daytona 500, his motorcade arrived by driving onto the track, with his limo later leading drivers on two ceremonial laps. Air Force One also did a flyover.

Events have sought to include him, too. Trump was asked for a prediction for Super Bowl during in an interview with Fox News — he plumped for the Chiefs, citing Mahomes’ prowess — and the interview was shown on Fox’s pre-game coverage. Trump also spoke effusively about the growth of soccer in the U.S. during an interview with DAZN, FIFA’s broadcaster for the Club World Cup, on the day of the final. The YES Network — the Yankees’ regional TV station — had been scheduled to do an interview with Trump in the network’s booth, but that did not go ahead following the killing of Kirk, with Trump instead spending the game in a suite behind protective glass erected on the morning of the game.

Ahead of the U.S. Open final, however, the United States Tennis Association asked broadcasters to censor protests or reaction to Trump’s appearance, according a memo previously reported on by The Athletic. And when he was in Philadelphia for the wrestling, NBC reported that Trump’s visit was also greeted by a 300-strong protest described as an “anti-fascist tailgate.”

Within the stadium, reactions have been mixed. At the Club World Cup final, there were far more jeers than cheers when his face came on screen ahead of the national anthem and then when he walked out with representatives from Chelsea, PSG and FIFA at the end of the game and posed for photographs. The U.S. Open final leaned more to boos than adulation, while reporters present at the Yankees game this month said the reaction was mixed but more positive than the previous events. On the field, the Detroit Tigers players Dillon Dingler, Gleyber Torres and Wenceel Perez did the ‘Trump dance’ that previously was popular within sport during his campaign and following his re-election.

In Nassau County, the location of Bethpage, Trump should be more warmly received, having won the area by 4.2 percentage points in last year’s election and held a homecoming rally in the town in 2016 ahead of a New York primary. Scottie Scheffler, the U.S. golfer, said this week that he often receives encouraging texts from the president, while DeChambeau was appointed Chair of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition in July.

Trump has not always been involved in celebrations or presentations. He did not present the Super Bowl or U.S. Open men’s singles trophy, for instance. He was most involved, though, at the Club World Cup final, when he not only presented medals but then stayed on the podium, bobbing up and down with Chelsea players as they lifted the trophy.

“They told me that he (Trump) was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage. I thought he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay. And that probably highlights how big the tournament is,” Chelsea captain Reece James told The Athletic after the game.

Behind James, Chelsea’s players were laughing. Cole Palmer, the best player on the day, admitted to reporters afterwards that he was “a bit confused.”

It remains to be seen whether there are any repeats at the Ryder Cup. European captain Justin Rose, a Chelsea fan, was asked if he would mind a celebration with Trump if the Europeans win.

“One hundred percent, yeah, would love to have that opportunity,” the Englishman said. “Listen, I’m not sure he’s going to want to be on the stage congratulating the team that sort of wins in his backyard. But listen, of course, he’s the president, ultimate respect, and that would be a great opportunity.”

(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Gary Kellner / Getty, Andrew Harnik / Getty)

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