Former President Donald Trump attended the US Open on Sunday and was met with a mixed reception. He was seen waving from a luxury box prior to the final match, receiving both applause and boos. The stadium was not entirely full, and some spectators were unaware of his presence.
Trump attended as a guest of Rolex, despite the high tariffs his administration imposed on Swiss products. Tournament organizers sought to mitigate negative reactions on the broadcast.
In his post-presidency, Trump has been seen at more major sporting events instead of focusing on policy announcements or rallies.
Trump’s presence prompted increased security, delaying the men’s final by half an hour. This affected the start time of the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
The Trump administration levied a significant 39% tariff on Swiss goods, substantially higher than tariffs on goods from the EU and UK. This action raised concerns about Switzerland’s economic competitiveness.
The White House declined to comment on Trump’s attendance as a guest of Rolex, although the president has faced no scrutiny regarding the overlap between political decisions and his family business interests. This includes promoting cryptocurrency initiatives and his luxury golf properties. He announced his intention to host the G-20 summit at Trump National Park in December 2026.
The US Tennis Association adhered to its policy of avoiding negative reactions to Trump’s presence on the national broadcast. Protests were not evident during the event, and attendees refrained from wearing Make America Great Again hats.
Trump has been in attendance at the US Open before, but not since being booed in 2015. Alcaraz acknowledged that the presence of any president is beneficial to the sport of tennis and should not add pressure to the players.
Trump has also been seen at other major sporting events, including the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, UFC matches, and the FIFA Club World Cup final. It was the first time since 2000 that a sitting US president attended the US Open.