LANDOVER, Md. — President-elect Donald Trump huddled with allies and a Republican trigger célèbre at Saturday’s Military-Navy soccer recreation, taking in one of the vital storied rivalries in school sports activities whereas spotlighting his rising nationwide safety crew.
Trump was joined by Vice President-elect JD Vance, embattled Pentagon choose Pete Hegseth, potential backup protection secretary choice Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and others to observe Navy beat Military 31-13 within the one hundred and twenty fifth matchup between the service academies.
Daniel Penny, a navy veteran who was acquitted of criminally negligent murder final week within the chokehold demise of an agitated subway rider in New York, additionally was a visitor within the president’s suite. Penny was invited by Vance, who accused prosecutors of making an attempt to “ruin” Penny’s life by charging the Marine veteran within the demise of Jordan Neely in 2023.
Trump arrived at Northwest Stadium simply earlier than kickoff and was greeted warmly by the group, which erupted in cheers when the president-elect, Vance and Elon Musk, whom Trump has appointed to assist lead a proposed Division of Authorities Effectivity, appeared on the scoreboard video display.
The president, who was seated along with his entourage in a stadium suite, mouthed “thank you,” and the group erupted in a chant of “USA, USA!”
Trump, who attended Military-Navy video games as president-elect in 2016 and through his first time period, has been making an growing variety of public appearances earlier than his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. He was accompanied by his household and Vance on Thursday as he rang the opening bell for the New York Inventory Trade after being acknowledged as Time journal’s individual of the 12 months.
Trump spent the weeks after the Nov. 5 election holed up at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida assembling a crew to assist lead his subsequent administration.
DeSantis, a former Navy lawyer who competed towards Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, is among the many alternative candidates Trump has thought-about if Hegseth’s bid fizzles.
However Saturday’s recreation supplied Trump an opportunity to show his dedication to Hegseth’s nomination. The embattled nominee even stood with Trump and Vance for the taking part in of the nationwide anthem.
The temper appeared celebratory for Trump and his crew.
Hegseth — together with fellow Military veterans Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump’s incoming nationwide safety adviser, and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s choose to function director of nationwide intelligence — posted a brief video on X shortly earlier than the sport to make their allegiances clear.
“We love our Navy, except today,” mentioned Waltz, a retired Military Nationwide Guard colonel who did a number of fight excursions in Afghanistan, the Center East and Africa.
“Go Army!” Gabbard added.
Trump additionally hung out through the recreation with Air Drive Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, whose future may very well be on shaky floor within the new Trump administration.
Biden final 12 months tapped Brown for a four-year time period because the nation’s highest-ranking navy officer, however navy leaders serve on the pleasure of the president.
Brown, a fight pilot and simply the second Black officer to function chairman, spoke out after the police killing of George Floyd, a touchstone second within the Black Lives Matter motion, in regards to the bias he confronted in his personal life and profession.
However Trump has expressed disdain for fairness and variety packages. And Hegseth has decried a “woke” agenda that he argues is undermining U.S. navy power. Hegseth, days earlier than he was introduced as Trump’s Pentagon nominee, referred to as for firing Brown and generals who’ve promoted range insurance policies in a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL.
Trump additionally made time for Republican lawmakers whom he’ll must get his agenda via Congress.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was among the many lawmakers who chatted up Trump on the recreation. He introduced with him a contingent of different GOP lawmakers, incoming Senate Majority Chief John Thune and Pennsylvania Sen.-elect David McCormick, who vied for face time with the incoming president weeks earlier than Republicans take management of the White Home and each branches of Congress.
Johnson, who may very well be seen speaking with the president-elect earlier than kickoff, had mentioned he would talk about with Trump plans for a legislative package deal that would transfer via Congress subsequent 12 months with a easy majority within the face of anticipated Democratic opposition.
Vance introduced Penny, a fellow Marine veteran, as his visitor. Penny was cleared of criminally negligent murder in Neely’s demise after a decide had dismissed a extra critical manslaughter cost final week as a result of the jury deadlocked on that depend.
The case was a flashpoint within the long-standing debates over racial justice and failures by New York Metropolis to deal with homelessness and psychological sickness, each of which Neely had confronted.
“Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance wrote in a publish Friday on X. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”