President Donald Trump was met with boos from sections of the crowd as he appeared on the stadium video board during the national anthem at the College Football Playoff National Championship game in Miami on Monday.
The reaction came before kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium, where the Miami Hurricanes faced the Indiana Hoosiers for the national title. As the anthem played and cameras showed Trump standing in a suite, a mix of boos and cheers could be heard from parts of the stadium.
Highlights
- President Trump was booed by sections of the crowd while appearing on the stadium video board during the national anthem at the CFP National Championship.
- Trump attended the game with family and senior officials, including Ivanka Trump, Lara and Vanessa Trump, and Marco Rubio, a Miami native.
- Trump praised both finalist teams, calling college football a symbol of American values like family, freedom, and hard work.
- This was Trump's third time attending a CFP National Championship game, having previously attended in 2018 and 2020.
Trump waved to the crowd during the anthem.
Donald Trump was booed when he attended the CFP National Championship game
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The White House later confirmed the president attended the game as part of his Martin Luther King Jr. Day schedule.
Trump watched the game from a suite alongside members of his family. His daughter Ivanka Trump was present, along with at least four of his grandchildren. His granddaughter Kai Trump, an incoming University of Miami golfer, was seen with a cast on her arm.
Also seated near the president were Lara Trump and Vanessa Trump, Trump’s daughter-in-law and former daughter-in-law, respectively. Senior administration officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, were also present.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Miami native and longtime Hurricanes fan, was seen on the sidelines with his Secret Service detail before the game. He was also seen chatting with Heisman-trophy-winning ex-quarterback Tim Tebow.
Rubio and War Secretary Pete Hegseth were photographed on New Year’s Eve, sneakily watching the Miami Hurricanes match with the Ohio State Buckeyes on a cellphone during festivities at the president’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach.
According to a White House pool report, UFC president Dana White visited Trump’s suite during the game.
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In a statement released by the White House, Trump congratulated both teams on reaching the championship game.
“Melania and I congratulate the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes on making it to the College Football Playoff National Championship,” Trump said. “God bless the talented players and dedicated coaches, the families who love and support them, and the faithful fans who cheer them on.”
Trump added, “May the best team win!”
Trump attended the game with members of his family and administration, including Rubio
The president also praised college football as a symbol of American values.
“At its best, college football reflects our timeless American values of family, freedom, unity, and hard work and represents the pinnacle of our national spirit,” the statement said.
Monday’s appearance marked Trump’s third time attending a College Football Playoff national championship. During his first term, he traveled to Atlanta for the 2018 title game between Alabama and Georgia.
He also attended the 2020 championship between LSU and Clemson in New Orleans. Trump and the first lady had received a loud welcome.
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Trump has also made several recent high-profile sports appearances, including last month, when he participated in the coin toss at the Army-Navy game in Baltimore.
His visit to Miami comes as tensions are high globally, following the president’s attempts to acquire Greenland.
Trump has said he will charge a 10% tariff on any goods sent from the U.K. to the U.S. from February 1, increasing to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Trump to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
He also announced the new tariffs will impact several other European countries supporting Denmark, including Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland.
It is a move critics have described as bullying in a bid to force a deal.
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The tariff threat has since triggered an emergency meeting of European countries’ representatives, with French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly asking the European Union to activate its so-called anti-coercion instrument, or the “trade bazooka.”
This could block some of America’s access to EU markets or impose export controls.
On Sunday, during an NBA game in London, a heckler from the crowd yelled out in protest over Trump’s attempts to buy Greenland. Fans cheered on the outburst, which came after the U.S. national anthem.
Indiana won the Monday championship game, defeating Miami 27-21.