On a Wednesday afternoon in September, an email landed from the organizers of the Ryder Cup to those planning to attend the opening day of the golf tournament.<\/p>\n
The news, as has become familiar to those who watch showpiece sporting events in the United States<\/a>, was that President Donald Trump would be attending and, as a result, \u201cenhanced security measures\u201d and \u201cadditional restrictions\u201d would be in place.<\/p>\n Golf fans were told to arrive as \u201cearly as possible\u201d and warned they should \u201cbudget extra time\u201d throughout their day<\/a>. They should anticipate TSA-style screening points \u201caround the Clubhouse, adjacent grandstand and surrounding areas\u201d at Bethpage Black, Farmingdale.<\/p>\n On Saturday night, a similar email notice arrived from soccer\u2019s world governing body FIFA for the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It warned media representatives to arrive by 12:30 p.m. or \u201cas early as possible\u201d to allow \u201csufficient time for security screening\u201d before the 3 p.m. local time kick-off.<\/p>\n President Trump\u2019s appearances continue apace<\/a>. Since returning for a second term, he has attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans, UFC fights in Miami and New Jersey, the Daytona 500, the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia, the FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, and the U.S. Open men\u2019s tennis final, where the start time was delayed by 30 minutes after additional security measures were implemented<\/a>.<\/p>\n Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app<\/a><\/p>\n In June, Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.<\/a> The president, surrounded by bulletproof glass in a suite, saw the Knicks suffer their first playoff loss since April and break a 13-match winning streak. The added security on that occasion dominated the build-up to the game, leading to long lines for fans and thwarted watch parties.<\/p>\n Trump arrived in Manhattan on Marine One, taking a short flight from New Jersey. On Trump\u2019s 80th birthday, June 14, he had no need to travel to attend a sporting event, given UFC Freedom 250<\/a> took place on the South Lawn of the White House.<\/p>\n In a statement last September, White House spokeswoman Elizabeth Huston told The Athletic: \u201cSports are at the forefront of American culture, and President Trump loves them as the People\u2019s President.\u201d She went on to describe Trump \u201cas the greatest champion for sports of any president in American history.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s interest and presence at live sports predates his presidencies, having thrown the first pitch<\/a> at a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field in 2000, when he sang<\/a> \u201cTake Me Out To The Ball Game.\u201d He threw the first pitch in a game<\/a> between the Boston Red Sox and his preferred team, the New York Yankees, at Fenway Park in 2006.<\/p>\n He has been a long-time attendee of tennis\u2019 U.S. Open, while he is a WWE Hall of Famer whose venues hosted two WrestleManias in the 1980s, during a heyday in which he promoted boxing fights featuring Mike Tyson in Atlantic City. In the early 2000s, Trump stepped in to provide his Atlantic City casino as a venue for UFC.<\/p>\n \n A police officer at the 2025 Ryder Cup on Bethpage Black. (Mike Egerton \/ PA Images via Getty Images)<\/p>\n His second presidency, as well as his campaign to return to the White House, saw Trump use the nexus of sport, celebrity and entertainment to draw in a broader segment of the American electorate<\/a>, particularly young men. During his campaign, he attended UFC fights in Las Vegas and New York City, as well as the Palmetto Bowl in South Carolina, where he received acclaim. He appeared on podcasts associated with the \u2018manosphere,\u2019 such as Theo Von, Joe Rogan and UFC Unfiltered.<\/p>\n \u201cThe audience gets to see him through an unvarnished filter,\u201d his spokesman Steven Cheung told AP during the campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n His appearances are partly due to his passion for sports, but Trump has always recognized the power of crowds and events that draw big ratings on media platforms. He has frequently claimed credit for bringing the World Cup and Olympic Games to the United States, with the 2026 men\u2019s soccer tournament shared across the U.S., Canada and Mexico this summer. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics.<\/p>\n Both events were awarded during his first term as president, although his involvement in the World Cup bid was a little more complicated than he sometimes makes it appear<\/a>.<\/p>\n Trump set up a World Cup task force, which he chairs, and has held news briefings in the Oval Office with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, with the Club World Cup and World Cup trophies appearing in his office at different times. He was awarded FIFA\u2019s inaugural Peace Prize<\/a> at the World Cup draw last December.<\/p>\n \n Trump holds the World Cup at the White House in August. (Annabelle Gordon \/ UPI \/ Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s appearances at sports events, however, have developed a pattern: Anxiety and disruption for security services and event organizers, pomp and pageantry when he shows up, a divided reception from supporters and \u2014 most memorably during the Club World Cup final \u2014 a central role in celebrations.<\/p>\n At the Ryder Cup, New York State Police deployed helicopters and drones, and their chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response team was on hand to ensure the safety of those present. Ticket holders were told that gates would be open as early as 5am, but spectators were informed that a slew of items would not be permitted.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s presence inevitably means special measures. When he attended the NCAA Wrestling Championships in March 2025, fans were advised to consider alternative modes of transportation. The Wells Fargo Center put out an advisory, encouraging fans to use public transport, ride-share apps or carpool, as well as being told to arrive early and face enhanced security screenings including vehicle inspections.<\/p>\n When Trump attended the Yankees game<\/a> against the Detroit Tigers on the 24th anniversary of the 9\/11 terrorist attacks on New York City, the security presence from multiple authorities was huge, with representation from dozens of Secret Service officials, as well as the Transportation Security Administration and the New York Police Department. Fans were encouraged to arrive three hours before the first pitch and only pocket-sized personal items were allowed to be brought in, with no storage permitted.<\/p>\n Security concerns were further heightened because this game took place the day after the killing of political activist and Trump ally, Charlie Kirk. Trump\u2019s appearance at the Yankees game had been planned, with the team (whose president, Randy Levine, is a close friend of Trump\u2019s) being aware of his intention to attend at least one week in advance.<\/p>\n \n Trump attended the Yankees game with the Detroit Tigers on September 11. (Alex Brandon \/ Pool \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Advance public warning does not make the challenge any easier for security services.<\/p>\n \u201cPublic knowledge increases risk,\u201d Steven Rice, who worked for 27 years at the U.S. Department of State, told The Athletic before the Club World Cup final last July.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAnnounced appearances give adversaries time to plan, conduct surveillance, and exploit vulnerabilities. Public figures attract crowds, complicating protective movement and increasing the chance of disruptions. Announced visits narrow planning options and heighten the threat environment. Layered defenses, robust intelligence monitoring, and visible deterrence are critical.\u201d<\/p>\n When Trump became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl in February 2025, the hotel bill alone for Secret Service officials exceeded $115,000 for the Presidential Protective Division, according to a Freedom of Information Act request made by Front Office Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n Once Trump arrives, attention often turns to the company he is keeping. At the NCAA Wrestling Championships, he was joined by White House officials and Tesla founder Elon Musk, who at the time was running DOGE, the body set up to reduce government spending.<\/p>\n \n Trump and Elon Musk attend the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia in March. (Kayla Bartkowski \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n At the Super Bowl, the family of Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes stopped by to spend time with Trump, while, at the U.S. Open, he was a guest of sponsor Rolex rather than the tournament. He watched the majority of the final before heading into the suite during the third set and coming back out towards the end.<\/p>\n At the Club World Cup final, the company was more eye-catching, as NFL icon Tom Brady and media mogul Rupert Murdoch were among those who joined Trump and Infantino at MetLife Stadium. Leading Qatari politicians and businessmen were present, largely because Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain was competing against Chelsea.<\/p>\n When at games, Trump takes on different roles. At the Super Bowl, he met with the participants of the honorary coin toss at the New Orleans Superdome, as well as greeting relatives of victims of the New Year\u2019s Day terrorist attack that scarred the city just five weeks earlier, in addition to police department and emergency personnel.<\/p>\n At the Daytona 500, his motorcade arrived by driving onto the track, with his limo later leading drivers on two ceremonial laps. Air Force One flew over too.<\/p>\n Events have sought to include him, too. Trump was asked for a prediction for the Super Bowl during an interview with Fox News \u2014 he plumped for the Chiefs, citing Mahomes\u2019 prowess \u2014 and the interview was shown on Fox\u2019s pre-game coverage. Trump spoke effusively about the growth of soccer in the U.S. during an interview with DAZN, FIFA\u2019s broadcaster for the Club World Cup, on the day of the final.<\/p>\n \n Trump\u2019s car leads the field at the Daytona 500. (Chris Graythen \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Before the U.S. Open final, however, the United States Tennis Association asked broadcasters to censor protests or reaction to Trump\u2019s appearance, according to a memo<\/a>\u00a0reported on by The Athletic. And when he was in Philadelphia for the wrestling, NBC reported<\/a> that Trump\u2019s visit was greeted by a 300-strong protest described as an \u201canti-fascist tailgate.\u201d<\/p>\n Within the stadium, reactions have been mixed. At the Club World Cup final, there were far more jeers than cheers when his face came on screen for the national anthem and then when he walked out with representatives from Chelsea, PSG and FIFA at the end of the game and posed for photographs. The U.S. Open final also leaned more to boos than adulation, while Trump \u2014 the first sitting president to attend a Knicks game \u2014 was roundly booed by his fellow New Yorkers.<\/p>\n In Nassau County, the location of Bethpage, Trump was more warmly received having won the area by 4.2 percentage points in the election and held a homecoming rally in the town in 2016 ahead of a New York primary. Scottie Scheffler, the U.S. golfer, said that he often receives encouraging texts from the president.<\/p>\n Similarly, at the World Cup, Trump has spoken about becoming friendly with high-profile soccer players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane \u2014 including the president playing a round of golf with the England captain<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n Trump remained on the stage as Chelsea was presented with the Club World Cup in July. (David Ramos \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Trump has not always been involved in celebrations or presentations. He did not present the Super Bowl or U.S. Open men\u2019s singles trophy, for instance. He was most involved, though, at the Club World Cup final when he not only presented medals but then stayed on the podium, bobbing up and down with Chelsea players as they lifted the trophy.<\/p>\n At Sunday\u2019s World Cup final, there were again extensive security checks and the game started six minutes late with Trump watching on from behind glass, following an extensive pre-game show and the performance of national anthems.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2236933592-scaled.jpg\")
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