The U.S. Tennis Association asked broadcasters to refrain from highlighting crowd disruptions or reactions to President Trump, who is scheduled to attend the US Open men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, with the match expected to begin around 2 p.m. ET at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
- The USTA reportedly sent a memo asking networks not to showcase crowd reactions to the president’s presence.
- ESPN holds U.S. rights and ABC will air the men’s final; broadcasters plan to note Trump is in attendance while focusing on play.
- The request was framed as a routine production guideline, not a formal ban, according to the association’s statement.
- Broadcasters typically avoid showing streakers or game disruptions, but political protests can be considered newsworthy.
- Past instances include loud jeers when Trump attended matches in 2015 and activist disruptions at the 2023 US Open semifinal.
- Trump’s arrival in New York is scheduled to allow attendance at the match.
Verified Facts
On Sept. 6, 2025, media reports described a USTA memo to rights-holding broadcasters asking them to “refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the president’s attendance.” The association characterized the guidance as part of its routine requests to broadcasters about off-court disruptions.
ESPN is the U.S. rights-holder for the tournament and Disney’s ABC will carry the men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. ESPN’s production team has indicated it will show that the president is present while prioritizing live coverage of the match.
Trump’s presence at major sporting events this year has produced mixed receptions: a brief appearance at the Super Bowl in February drew mostly cheers inside the stadium, while his showing at the FIFA Club World Cup final in July prompted both cheers on arrival and boos later when he appeared on screens during the ceremony.
In 2015, then-presidential candidate Trump was met with loud boos at the US Open, and in 2023 environmental activists briefly halted a semifinal match, an event broadcasters covered mainly in the context of its effect on play.
Context & Impact
Sports broadcasts normally aim to keep attention on competition and players; production teams cut to crowd shots selectively to avoid amplifying attention-seeking behavior. The USTA’s guidance echoes that practice while drawing scrutiny because it touches on political expression.
How networks respond could shape public perception: choosing to minimize crowd reactions may reduce the visibility of dissent at a high-profile event, while showing chants or jeers would put a political moment into what organizers want to remain a sporting spectacle.
Broadcasters must balance editorial judgment, viewer expectations, and technical directions from rights holders. Advertisers and audiences in New York—where the Open is a major civic event—have differing tolerance for political displays inside a stadium.
- Possible broadcaster options: brief acknowledgment of attendance, focus on court action, or limited crowd shots emphasizing impact on play.
- Potential consequences: viewer criticism if perceived as censorship, or backlash if networks amplify political displays.
“We regularly ask our broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions,”
U.S. Tennis Association (statement to media)
Unconfirmed
- Whether the USTA guidance will be enforced or strictly followed by individual broadcasters during live coverage.
- Whether protestors will target Sunday’s final or what form any protest might take.
- How social media and delayed clips may amplify reactions regardless of live broadcast choices.
Bottom Line
The USTA’s request highlights ongoing tensions between live sports production and political expression at major events. Broadcasters are likely to acknowledge President Trump’s attendance while limiting sustained crowd shots, but the choices they make will influence how viewers and social platforms perceive the event.