Donald Trump has taken his seat at the 125th edition of the Army-Navy game, where he was joined by billionaire backer Elon Musk among on other MAGA loyalists.
The president-elect was seen with his running mate, Marine Corps veteran JD Vance, as well as Senator-elect Dave McCormick (Republican-Pennsylvania), embattled Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, national intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard and others for the 125th matchup between service academies.
Trump waved to adoring fans, many of whom represent the US Naval Academy at Annapolis or the US Military Academy at West Point.
Also in attendance is Daniel Penny, a military veteran who was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide this week in the chokehold death of an agitated subway rider in New York. Penny was invited by Vance, who accused prosecutors of trying to ‘ruin’ Penny’s life by charging the Marine veteran in the death of Jordan Neely in 2023.
Army (11-1) is ranked 19th in The Associated Press Top 25 after beating Tulane on December 6 to win the American Athletic Conference — the first league title of any kind in the team’s 134-year history. Navy (8-3) was ranked earlier this season after starting with six straight victories. Kickoff is after 3pm EST at Northwest Stadium, home to the NFL’s Washington Commanders , in Landover, Maryland .
Trump , who attended Army-Navy games as president-elect in 2016 and as POTUS 2019, has been making an increasing number of public appearances before his inauguration on January 20, 2025. He was accompanied by his family and Vance on Thursday as he rang the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange after being recognized as Time magazine’s person of the year.
Elon Musk is seen grinning at the Army-Navy game between Donald Trump and JD Vance
Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth are seen left to right
Vice President-elect JD Vance (left) and Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth (right)
(From left to right)) National Intelligence Director nominee former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance
Trump looks out at Northwest Stadium, home to the Commanders, in Landover, Maryland
He’s also made a habit of attending college football games , such as the 2018 and 2020 College Football Playoff National Championships, as well as rivalry matchups between Georgia and Alabama, Iowa and Iowa State, as well as Clemson and South Carolina during the 2024 campaign.
One person who isn’t planning to be in attendance: President Joe Biden.
Remarkably, Biden has never attended an Army-Navy game during his presidency – and now the President is taking some heat from Trump supporters.
‘Why didn’t Joe Biden attend an Army Navy football game?’ one Trump supporter asked on X ahead of Saturday’s rivalry game.
Biden’s absence is particularly conspicuous this season as the game is being played in nearby Landover, Maryland, where the NFL’s Washington Commanders play their home games.
‘C’mon!’ one X user wrote about the 82-year-old Biden. ‘You expect him to stay awake for 3 hours?’
Another suggested Biden ‘doesn’t want to be booed.’
And it’s not just Republicans. A Democrat and admitted supporter of the President admitted he ‘will never understand why Biden did not go to Army/Navy game last year and why he is not going this year.’
