On Sept. 7, 2025, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, Queens, enhanced security tied to President Trump’s visit slowed entry and delayed the U.S. Open men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, which did not begin until 2:48 p.m.; when Mr. Trump appeared on the stadium screens, attendees responded with mostly boos and some cheers.
Key Takeaways
- The men’s final, scheduled for 2:00 p.m., was delayed first 30 minutes, then another 15, and ultimately began at 2:48 p.m.
- President Trump arrived in a suite around 1:45 p.m. and remained through the match and trophy presentation.
- Enhanced, T.S.A.-style screening slowed entry; many fans waited roughly 30 minutes in line.
- Fans booed when the president was shown on the stadium video boards; mixed reactions included some cheers.
- An attendee reported receiving a promotional deodorant sample that was later surrendered at security.
- The stadium is Arthur Ashe Stadium, the biggest tennis arena in the world with capacity above 23,000.
Verified Facts
The match between Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz was due to start at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Tournament officials delayed the opening first by 30 minutes and then by an additional 15 minutes; play ultimately began at 2:48 p.m., with hundreds of spectators still waiting to pass through security checkpoints.
President Trump entered a suite behind center court at about 1:45 p.m. and later took a seat in a sideline suite near the court. He was briefly shown on the stadium video boards during the national anthem and again after the first set; those on the screens were met mostly with boos and intermittent cheers.
Attendees described entry as slowed by enhanced screening procedures described by observers as similar to Transportation Security Administration checks. Many fans reported standing in line for roughly 30 minutes; at least one attendee, Alma Alcantara of Austin, said tournament staff had handed out small promotional deodorant bars that some fans were later required to surrender at security.
Mr. Trump remained in the stadium for the full match and the trophy presentation, signed a few caps for fans and applauded both players during their speeches before departing.
Context & Impact
Large public appearances by a sitting president require elevated security that can affect event timelines and guest processing. For high-capacity venues such as Arthur Ashe Stadium, added screening can create bottlenecks at entry points and alter planned start times.
For event organizers and ticketed attendees, the delay underscored the operational trade-offs between accommodating high-profile visitors and maintaining schedule integrity for major sporting events. Fans and staff reported communication gaps about the cause and expected length of the delay.
Beyond logistics, the public reaction—mostly boos when the president appeared on the video boards—reflects the mixed reception political figures can encounter at national sporting events. Such reactions can shape media coverage and influence future planning for public-figure attendance at large events.
Official Statements
“There’s just a lot of confusion and chaos,”
Alma Alcantara, U.S. Open attendee
Unconfirmed
- Some social media posts amplified reports of longer delays or different crowd reactions; those individual accounts are not independently verified here.
- No official public statement from Secret Service or U.S. Open with a detailed timeline of security measures was cited in initial reporting.
Bottom Line
The president’s attendance at the U.S. Open men’s final on Sept. 7 produced heightened security that delayed the match start, provoked mostly negative reactions from some spectators when he appeared on-screen, and highlighted operational challenges for large sporting events hosting high-profile political figures. Organizers and venues may reassess screening communication and entry flows for similar visits going forward.