President Donald Trump is set to attend the men’s singles final of the US Open on Sunday, adding the New York Grand Slam event to a growing list of high-profile sports appearances since he began his new term in office.
The New York-born president is expected to watch the showdown between top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, alongside a host of celebrities at Flushing Meadows.
The visit will be his first to the tournament since 2015, when he and wife Melania were met with boos from the crowd while he was campaigning for the presidency. Many observers predict a similar reaction this time around, given New York’s largely Democratic base.
Speaking ahead of the match, Alcaraz said he intended to stay focused despite the heightened attention: “I don’t want myself to be nervous because of it, but I think attending the tennis match is great for tennis to have the president at the final.” Security is expected to be extremely tight for Trump’s appearance.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has been a regular at major sporting events. He was booed at the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey but welcomed warmly at the Super Bowl, several UFC fights, and the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. He has also confirmed plans to attend the Ryder Cup later this month and is even preparing to host a UFC fight on the White House grounds.
Trump has frequently highlighted the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as symbols of what he describes as a “Golden Age of America” under his leadership.
The last sitting president to attend the US Open was Bill Clinton, who watched the women’s final in 2000. Trump was also present that year and was photographed in a friendly exchange with Clinton.
Although Trump made his fortune and political debut in New York, he changed his official residence during his first term from Manhattan to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The 79-year-old has only returned to New York occasionally in recent years, including several weeks last year while facing a criminal trial.
Sunday’s final will mark Trump’s first trip to New York City in his second term, with more visits scheduled later in the month, including a baseball game commemorating the September 11 attacks and his address to the UN General Assembly on September 23.
What You Should Know
President Donald Trump will attend the US Open men’s final in New York, marking his first city visit of his second term. His presence at Flushing Meadows comes amid a mix of anticipation and controversy, given his history of being booed at sports events in his hometown.
The trip underscores Trump’s continued embrace of sports as part of his public image and his effort to tie major global events like the World Cup and Olympics to his vision of a “Golden Age of America.”
