The U.S. Open men’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium wasn’t just about tennis on Sunday—it turned into a political moment that had fans jeering, broadcasters scrambling, and security dragging out the start of the match by half an hour.
President Donald Trump showed up to the final between Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, and the reception was anything but warm. As Trump waved and pumped his fist outside the trophy suite, the crowd let loose. Booing echoed throughout the stadium, lasting well beyond just a passing reaction.
According to CNN reporters at the scene, the boos drowned out the scattered applause. One clip circulating on social media shows Trump being booed for 30 seconds straight after briefly appearing on the big screen. “The U.S. Open just showed Donald Trump on the screen for a second time and he got booed for 30 seconds straight,” one user posted on X. “Fans are pissed off. This is the clip that he didn’t want you to see.”
In response to the president’s appearance, security measures kicked in hard. Fans were left standing in long lines outside as the stadium locked down, delaying the start of the match by a full 30 minutes.
This marked Trump’s first visit to the U.S. Open since 2015, back when his public appearances were less politically loaded. Since returning to office in January, he’s made a habit of showing up at major sporting events—including the Super Bowl (a first for a sitting president), multiple UFC fights, and the launch of the LIV Golf League.
His arrival in New York, however, proved especially contentious.
The USTA appeared to see it coming. In a move that raised eyebrows, officials issued a memo ahead of time asking broadcasters not to air any footage of crowd disruptions or reactions tied to Trump’s appearance. Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg first reported on the guidance in his Substack Bounces, quoting the memo:
“With respect to Broadcast Coverage, the President will be shown on the World Feed and the Ashe Court Feed during the opening anthem ceremony. We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President’s attendance in any capacity, including ENG [Electronic News Gathering] coverage.”
The memo also extended to off-broadcast coverage, suggesting the USTA was trying to avoid turning the tennis final into a political circus.
In response, Republicans Against Trump called the move censorship. “The US Open sent an email to broadcasters instructing them to censor any crowd reactions or protests during Trump’s appearance. Trump is about to face the loudest boos of his life,” the group posted on X.
A USTA spokesperson downplayed the move, telling Newsweek via email, “We regularly ask our broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions.”
Meanwhile, Trump sat in a luxury suite sponsored by Rolex, per an anonymous source cited by the Associated Press.
Despite the noise, Alcaraz tried to keep it business as usual. Asked about Trump being in the stands, the Spanish star offered a diplomatic response.
“It is a privilege for the tournaments, having a president…to support the tournaments, to support tennis, to support the match,” he said. “I will try not to think about it, I don’t want myself to be nervous because of it…It’s great for tennis to have the president into the final.”
Whether it’s actually “great” or not depends on who you ask. What’s clear is that fans weren’t shy in expressing how they felt—and even with the cameras carefully avoiding it, the sound inside Arthur Ashe Stadium said more than enough.
Watch the clip below:
The U.S. Open just showed Donald Trump on the screen for a second time and he got booed for 30 seconds straight.
Fans are pissed off. This is the clip that he didn't want you to see. pic.twitter.com/AxJDCgNcLC
— First To Hear It (@firsttohearit) September 7, 2025
