The True Post (Web News) The arrival of US President Donald Trump at the final of the US Open Tennis Championship dramatically changed the atmosphere of the event.
While some people welcomed the presence of the President, there were also signs of disapproval and opposition from many spectators. Due to security reasons, the match started about thirty minutes later than the scheduled time.
Stadium view
Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York, is the world’s largest tennis stadium. Even before the start of the final match, unusual security activities attracted the attention of fans. As President Trump emerged from the box seat and waved to the crowd, the stadium echoed with mixed cheers and voices of opposition.
Television broadcasts showed scenes of the president waving, but broadcasters avoided the actual crowd noise. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) had previously asked broadcast partners to avoid airing “any off-court disruption” to keep the focus on the match.
“To provide additional security measures and allow more time for fans to reach their seats, today’s final is being moved to 2:30 p.m. (local time),” tournament organizers said in a statement. The Secret Service and other federal agencies checked bags and installed metal detectors at the stadium entrances, causing relatively long waits for fans.
President Trump and sporting events
Donald Trump is a keen sports fan. He has attended several major events during his presidency, including the Super Bowl and UFC fights. Trump’s weekends are usually spent on golf courses near Washington, D.C., or at his personal resorts in New Jersey and Florida.
In February of this year, President Trump issued an executive order seeking to ban transgender players from women’s sports. Supporters said the move would restore “equal opportunity,” while critics called it a crackdown on minority rights. Over the summer, he pressured the Washington Commanders football team to revert to its controversial former name, “Redskins,” which is considered derogatory to Native American tribes.
Public reaction
Fans’ opinions appeared divided regarding President Trump’s arrival at the US Open.
Dave (New York banker)
“I am not happy with their presence. I am not a fan of them. They have been declared criminals.”
Karen Stark (retired tennis player, Michigan)
“They can go wherever they want. If they want to watch the match, that’s their right.” These opinions show that the president’s presence did not affect fans equally.
Political background
New York state is traditionally considered a Democratic stronghold, so the environment here has not always been equally favorable for a Republican president like Trump. According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, the president’s approval rating in July and August was just 40 percent, the lowest level of his presidency.
Match ending and future hints
After the president’s arrival, when the men’s singles final between Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) and Yannick Sinner (Italy) finally began, most of the seats in the stadium were filled. Although the president refrained from making any statements during the match, his presence made the entire event the center of unusual attention.
This incident once again shows that when major figures in American politics step onto the sports field, the reaction is not limited to applause and cheers, but rather the difference in public opinion is clearly revealed.