President-elect Donald Trump attended yesterday's Army-Navy game at M&T Bank Stadium, and the sellout crowd of 71,600 "offered no apparent reaction" to his arrival as he "made his way to a glass-enclosed suite on the Navy side of the stadium." Trump "appeared on the large video boards at the stadium during the first half, waving and pumping his fist to the crowd, which greeted him with cheers and chants of 'USA, USA.'" Trump did "not walk across the field from the Navy side to the Army side at halftime, a ceremony generally reserved" for the President or Secretary of Defense. Fans "generally greeted Trump warmly" (Baltimore SUN, 12/11). While nine sitting presidents have attended the game, "it’s unclear whether a president-elect has ever been in attendance." Army won 21-17 to snap a 14-game losing streak to its rival (USATODAY.com, 12/10).
Trump appeared in CBS' broadcast booth at the start of the third quarter, saying, “I love the armed forces and I love the folks. The spirit is so incredible. I don't know if it's necessarily the best football, but it's very good. And boy, do they have spirit, more than anybody. It's beautiful. … I’m totally neutral.” CBS’ Gary Danielson said, “How about the Ambassador to Sweden for Mr. Verne Lundquist?” Trump: “I can't do better than this. … We have to have him for The Masters. That sounds like a great idea. Great idea. I would do that in a heartbeat” (“Navy-Army,” CBS, 12/10).
