President Donald Trump is expected to steal the spotlight during an appearance at the U.S. Open this Sunday, marking his first since being loudly booed during a Serena vs. Venus Williams match in 2015.
The president, who has long maintained a presence at high-profile sporting events, will attend the Men’s Singles Final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, according to multiple sources and confirmation from the White House. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET in Queens.
© Jean CatuffeA White House official, speaking anonymously to The Athletic, verified Trump’s return to the tournament, which he hasn’t attended since his presidential campaign trail led him into hostile territory at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
At that 2015 quarterfinal, Trump entered with Melania and was met with a chorus of boos from New York fans, a moment captured and circulated by ESPN.
© Jean CatuffeWhether his hometown crowd will react the same way a decade later, now during his second term in office, remains to be seen. One major clue that Trump will be in the area is airspace restrictions. “Blade, which has been helicoptering corporate sponsors and attendees from Manhattan to the matches, are moving flights two hours ahead of the finals,” a source told Page Six.
Before entering politics, Trump was a familiar face at the U.S. Open. He had a personal suite at Arthur Ashe Stadium up until 2017, when he gave it up upon taking office. It was also the site of a key family moment, where Eric Trump’s wife, Lara, reportedly met Donald Trump for the first time at the tournament back in 2008.
© MATT CAMPBELLTrump may not be able to root for a home player this time around, as none of the finalists are American. The men’s final will feature the winners of two high-stakes semifinals, Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Trump’s weekend schedule is stacked with sports. He’s expected to attend a Yankees game on September 11 and confirmed on Truth Social that he’ll also make an appearance at golf’s Ryder Cup on Long Island later this month.
© Images PressThis year alone, Trump has made a series of high-profile appearances at major sports events. After securing his second term in office, he appeared at a UFC fight in New York flanked by administration officials, UFC head Dana White, and even Elon Musk. He later attended Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans but departed at halftime.
© Najlah FeannyIn June, he presented the trophy at the FIFA Club World Cup final, where Chelsea claimed the title. He’ll rejoin FIFA President Gianni Infantino in December at the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., an event to be held at the Kennedy Center, which Trump has previously attempted to reshape through arts programming.
Trump and UFC CEO Dana White are reportedly planning a mixed martial arts card at the White House on July 4, 2026, timed with the 250th anniversary of the United States.
