Trump Receives Boos at US Open, USTA appearance Draws criticism and Applause for Springsteen
NEW YORK – September 7, 2025 – Former President Donald Trump’s appearance at the US Open men’s final on Sunday drew a sustained chorus of boos from the crowd, overshadowing the match between Carlos Alcaraz and his opponent. The United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) decision to prominently display Trump on the stadium’s large screen for an extended period appeared to intentionally highlight the negative reaction,a move some observers believe was a calculated risk.
Trump’s presence at the event, and the accompanying security detail, transformed the showcase into what many described as an authoritarian spectacle. He reportedly arrived during the match and initially appeared disengaged, not actively cheering or applauding.
The USTA initially placed the US Open men’s trophy within Trump’s viewing area, a Rolex box, before switching it to a doubles cup after the national anthem. During a changeover between sets, the USTA broke with protocol to show Trump on the big screen for 20 seconds, prompting the lengthy and vocal booing reminiscent of the reception he received at the 2019 World Series.
A subsequent camera cut to Bruce Springsteen elicited a substantially more positive response,with a roar of approval from the crowd.
Following Alcaraz’s victory, Trump was unable to participate in the traditional trophy presentation, which was rather handled by Ivan Lendl. He departed shortly after the match concluded, according to the White House pool report, along with his ample security presence.
The incident echoes concerns about the politicization of sporting events, similar to those raised at July’s Club World Cup final. A recent settlement with Paramount over editing in a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris also highlights ongoing scrutiny of media portrayals surrounding the former president.
Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, famously saeid of her father that “he wants to be the bride at every wedding, the corpse at every funeral, and the baby at every christening.” The quote has been applied to Trump’s consistent pursuit of attention and self-aggrandizement.
(This article was amended on 8 September 2025. We originally identified alice Roosevelt Longworth’s father as Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She was, in fact, the daughter of Theodore Roosevelt.)
