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President Donald Trump did not receive a warm welcome during Sunday’s Washington Commanders-Detroit Lions game.
Over Northwest Stadium’s public address system, Trump read the names of those who enlisted in the U.S. military as part of the NFL’s “Salute to Service” festivities ahead of Veterans Day. Commander’s fans booed though.
The reaction didn’t surprise former NFL player and military veteran Alejandro Villanueva.
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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva stands for the national anthem before playing against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field. (Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports)
“There’s a lot of division in the United States politically, maybe in the whole world, about who the president is. It’s unfortunate,” he told Pakinomist Digital in a recent interview. “I mean, sure, I wish we lived in a place where we had a lot more agreement, but this is America. You protect everyone’s freedoms and rights to protest and express themselves however they want.”
Villanueva also hoped civilians don’t reach a point where they feel service members only support one political side.
“I hope that we don’t create the military into a class where Americans feel that it supports one political party or the other because I feel that military-civilian relationship is one of the most special and defining aspects of our military and the fact that we’ve been able to be, you know, the power that we are right now.”
President Donald Trump speaks from a suite with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, left, during halftime of an NFL football game between the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
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Trump received a mix of cheers and boos when he arrived at the stadium from Mar-a-Lago. He spent the morning playing golf and demanded that the Democrats stop government shutdownwhich finally ended late Wednesday night.
Before leaving Landover, he spent time in the Fox broadcast booth calling the game alongside Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma.
The Commanders welcomed Trump to the stadium days before the match.
People raise their hands as they take the oath of office during a reinstatement ceremony for the U.S. Army during an NFL game between the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., Nov. 9, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
“We are honored to welcome President Trump to the game as we celebrate those who have served and continue to serve our country,” Commander-in-Chief President Mark Clouse said earlier this week. “The entire Commanders organization is proud to participate in the NFL’s league-wide Salute to Service initiative, recognizing the dedication and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans, active duty service members and their families this Sunday.”
