FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — President Donald Trump attended the U.S. Open final on Sept. 7, 2025, drawing audible boos and occasional cheers as Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner and reclaimed the ATP world No. 1 ranking. His presence — the first at the Grand Slam since 2015 — prompted extra security screening, a roughly 30-minute delay to the 2 p.m. start and an on-site request from the U.S. Tennis Association that broadcasters avoid showing crowd reactions. Television viewers saw only intermittent images of Trump; tournament organizers and networks managed what was shown on air while play proceeded to its conclusion.
Key Takeaways
- Attendance: Trump’s suite appearance on Sept. 7, 2025, marked his first U.S. Open visit since 2015 and drew both boos and cheers on the Arthur Ashe Stadium video boards.
- Match outcome: Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner to win the U.S. Open and reclaim the ATP world No. 1 ranking.
- Security impact: Additional screenings and Secret Service presence led to long lines, a roughly 30-minute match delay from 2:00 p.m. ET, and fans entering nearly an hour into play.
- Broadcast guidance: The USTA issued a memo asking broadcasters to “refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions” to the president’s attendance.
- On-site guests: Trump was accompanied in the suite by senior aides and advisers with named seat tags, including Jared Kushner, Pam Bondi, Karoline Leavitt, Steve Witkoff, Scott Bessent and Susie Wiles.
- Telecast coverage: ABC, which carried the final, did not show the loudest scoreboard reaction because it was on commercial break; ESPN (the producer) declined public comment on production choices.
- Player conduct: Neither Alcaraz nor Sinner publicly acknowledged Trump on court; Alcaraz greeted his team and fans and did not accept a trophy presentation from the president.
Background
High-profile political figures have long appeared at major sporting events in the United States; Trump attended the U.S. Open frequently before 2017 and maintained a personal suite for nearly two decades. His 2015 appearance, while a candidate, also drew boos during a match between Venus and Serena Williams, setting a precedent for polarized reactions at the tournament. Since re-entering public life after winning a second term in November, Trump has been visible at a string of sports events, including a UFC fight and Super Bowl LIX in February 2025.
The U.S. Open is run by the United States Tennis Association, which balances fan experience, player scheduling and broadcast agreements for Arthur Ashe Stadium, a venue that seats roughly 24,000 spectators. Major events routinely coordinate with federal and local authorities for VIP protection; however, an on-site presidential presence elevates logistical demands, often adding security layers and screening that can slow ingress and affect match timing.
Main Event
Trump arrived at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center ahead of the final and sat in a suite near the front rail with the championship trophy beside a row of yellow flowers. At multiple points during the match he was shown on the stadium’s video boards; the most vociferous reaction followed the first set when the crowd both booed and cheered. Witnesses on site said he mouthed “thank you” after being shown and interacted with fans, sometimes pointing or smiling as people photographed him.
Secret Service agents and uniformed officers were visible hours before play, with some agents wearing tactical vests while moving inside and outside the complex. The extra screening funnel for Arthur Ashe Stadium produced long queues in the plaza and contributed to a 30-minute postponement of the scheduled 2:00 p.m. ET start time. Tournament staff distributed a blue commemorative U.S. Open hat to fans who entered after the delay.
Television coverage varied. ABC, the broadcast carrier, was on a commercial break when scoreboard footage of Trump produced the loudest jeers, meaning some viewers did not see the exchange. The USTA had circulated a memo asking broadcasters not to show reactions to the president’s attendance; the memo was later reviewed by reporters. When play resumed after the break, commentators shifted focus back to on-court tactics and the potential for Sinner to mount a comeback.
Analysis & Implications
The episode highlights a recurring tension between event organizers’ desire to control spectacle and broadcasters’ role in documenting live reaction. The USTA’s request to limit coverage of crowd responses is a form of editorial gating rarely applied to nonpolitical celebrities but more commonly asserted when political figures attend mass events. That ask raises questions about transparency for viewers and about where responsibility lies when real-time crowd behavior intersects with broadcast norms.
Logistics-wise, presidential attendance reshapes operations. The added security layers interrupted fan flow and compressed player pre-match routines, forcing athletes and their teams to adapt warm-up and mental-prep timelines. For tournament organizers, the trade-off is familiar: high-profile presence brings attention and sponsor value but imposes costs on punctuality and on-site experience.
Politically, the incident underscores how polarized public responses to leaders now manifest in sports arenas. Fans used the stadium’s public platform to register opinion, while broadcasters and organizers worked to limit the visibility of those opinions. That dynamic could set practical precedents ahead of future events that draw polarizing figures, including negotiated agreements with networks about on-air shots and scripted camera plans.
Comparison & Data
| Item | 2015 Trump Visit | 2025 Final |
|---|---|---|
| Trump U.S. Open attendance | Candidate-era quarterfinal appearance (2015) | First visit since 2015, Sept. 7, 2025 |
| Reported gate impact | No major delay reported | ~30-minute match delay; fans admitted nearly an hour into play |
| Stadium capacity | ~24,000 | ~24,000 |
The table above places the 2025 visit in context: unlike 2015, organizers and security managers in 2025 imposed additional screening that affected entry timing and match scheduling. While stadium capacity remained roughly the same, the operational footprint of a presidential appearance expanded, resulting in measurable fan-impact delays.
Reactions & Quotes
“Please take your seats.”
James Keothavong, chair umpire
The chair umpire had to ask fans on the inner concourse to return to their seats as play was about to resume, indicating how concentrated attention on the suite interrupted the match flow. Umpires and tournament staff had to balance crowd control with maintaining momentum of play.
“We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President’s attendance in any capacity.”
United States Tennis Association (memo)
The USTA’s internal guidance to broadcast partners, reviewed by reporters, framed the organization’s preference for minimizing visuals of crowd response. The memo did not compel networks legally, but it signaled the tournament’s editorial preference for the live feed.
“It was a privilege to have the American president supporting the match.”
Carlos Alcaraz (player)
Alcaraz said he viewed the attendance as a privilege before play and said he would try not to let it distract him. On-court, he focused on performance and later moved through the stands to celebrate with team members rather than engaging with the presidential suite.
Unconfirmed
- Exact internal discussions between ESPN/ABC producers and the USTA about which shots to run were described to reporters but not publicly documented; network representatives declined detailed comment.
- Some eyewitness accounts suggested more sustained crowd chanting than televised clips showed; available video and official statements do not fully corroborate the duration or volume of those reactions.
Bottom Line
President Trump’s attendance at the Sept. 7, 2025 U.S. Open final was a high-profile moment that rippled through security plans, fan movement and broadcast decisions without altering the athletic outcome: Carlos Alcaraz won and reclaimed the No. 1 ranking. Organizers managed visibility of the crowd’s response through a mix of on-site screening and a formal request to broadcasters, creating a limited public record of how fans reacted in real time.
Going forward, tournament hosts and networks will likely refine protocols for politically prominent attendees to avoid disruptions while preserving live coverage integrity. Fans, players and broadcasters will all watch how future events balance safety, editorial independence and transparency when leaders attend high-stakes public sporting occasions.