— President Donald Trump attended the U.S. Open men’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens on Sunday as a guest of Rolex, drawing mixed cheers and boos from the crowd while watching second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz face No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner.
Key takeaways
- Trump attended the U.S. Open on Sept. 7 as a Rolex guest and briefly waved to the crowd.
- His appearance produced both cheers and boos; organizers asked broadcasters not to show off-court disruptions.
- The president watched from Rolex’s suite after additional security screenings delayed the match start by 30 minutes.
- The visit came weeks after the administration imposed a 39% tariff on Swiss goods, raising questions about accepting a Swiss company’s invitation.
- Senior administration figures and several celebrities were among attendees, and no large street protests were evident near the stadium.
Verified facts
President Trump arrived in New York on Air Force One and was present at Arthur Ashe Stadium more than 45 minutes before the rescheduled start of the men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz, 22, of Spain (No. 2 seed), and Jannik Sinner, 24, of Italy (No. 1 seed and defending champion). Extra security screening contributed to a half-hour postponement of the match.
Trump watched the final from a suite provided by Rolex. The White House confirmed the president accepted Rolex’s invitation but declined additional comment when asked about the optics of being hosted by a company from a country recently targeted by U.S. trade policy.
Earlier this summer the administration imposed a 39% tariff on Swiss products. That levy is more than 2.5 times the rate applied to European Union exports and nearly four times the rate applied to British goods, figures that have been cited in trade analyses and coverage of the policy.
Among those who accompanied or traveled with the president to the event were White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Celebrities in attendance included Pink, Bruce Springsteen, Shonda Rhimes, Michael J. Fox, Sting, Shaggy, Ben Stiller and Courteney Cox.
Context & impact
A sitting president attending a Grand Slam final is notable: the White House said Trump has prioritized major sporting appearances during his second term’s domestic travel schedule rather than large policy-focused events or campaign-style rallies.
The Rolex invitation drew scrutiny because the Trump administration’s 39% tariff on Swiss products directly affects the Swiss watch industry. Critics and observers pointed out the contrast between the policy action and accepting an invitation from a brand tied to the affected country.
- Media organizations commonly avoid broadcasting off-court crowd reactions; the U.S. Tennis Association asked broadcasters to refrain from showcasing disruptions.
- No major street protests near the main stadium were visible as fans filed in after heavy rains cleared.
“We regularly ask our broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions.”
U.S. Tennis Association
Unconfirmed
- No public evidence was provided that the invitation from Rolex influenced the timing or content of the administration’s tariff decision; the White House declined to comment on the invitation when asked.
- Reports that the Trump family business directly negotiated the suite arrangement at this specific event have not been independently confirmed.
Bottom line
Trump’s appearance at the U.S. Open combined the visibility of a major sporting event with questions about the overlap of political decisions and corporate hospitality. The president’s presence drew both support and opposition from attendees while spotlighting the contrast between recent trade policy toward Switzerland and accepting an invitation from a Swiss-linked luxury brand.
Observers will likely continue to monitor how the administration manages high-profile corporate interactions tied to countries affected by U.S. trade measures.