Fox Sports producers had an inkling that President Trump was attending the U.S. Women’s Open, but they were not told with any certainty. Producers used a crane on the 18th hole to show the president’s motorcade when it arrived on Friday. “That gave us a pretty good heads-up,” said Fox Sports Coordinating Producer Mark Loomis. In its coverage on Friday and yesterday, Fox Sports frequently cut to shots of the president watching the event from a viewing booth near the 15th green. Its coverage today is expected to follow the same guidelines. “I’ve never done an event with a sitting U.S. president,” Loomis said. “We’re trying to show that he’s here, but we’re also trying to make our telecast about the event.”
Fox Sports has not requested an on-camera interview with President Trump, Loomis said. “We feel that would take away from the event,” he said. The president’s appearance has created an unusual atmosphere, particularly around his viewing both, Loomis said. “Half the crowd is facing one way and watching him and half the crowd is facing the other way and watching the golf.”
