LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump huddled with allies and a Republican trigger célèbre at Saturday’s Army-Navy football game, taking in probably the most storied rivalries in faculty sports activities whereas spotlighting his rising nationwide safety crew.
Trump was joined by Vice President-elect JD Vance, embattled Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, potential backup defense secretary option Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and others to observe Navy beat Military 31-13 within the one hundred and twenty fifth matchup between the service academies.
Daniel Penny, a army veteran who was acquitted of criminally negligent murder this previous week within the chokehold demise of an agitated subway rider in New York, additionally was a visitor within the president’s suite. Penny was invited by Vance, who accused prosecutors of attempting to “damage” Penny’s life by charging the Marine veteran within the demise of Jordan Neely in 2023.
Trump arrived at Northwest Stadium simply earlier than kickoff and was greeted warmly by the group, which erupted in cheers when the president-elect, Vance and Elon Musk, who Trump has appointed to assist lead a proposed Department of Government Efficiency, appeared on the scoreboard video display screen.
The president, who was seated along with his entourage in a stadium suite, mouthed “thanks” and the group erupted in a chant of “USA, USA!”
Trump, who attended Military-Navy video games as president-elect in 2016 and through his first time period, has been making an rising variety of public appearances earlier than his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. He was accompanied by his household and Vance on Thursday as he rang the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange after being acknowledged as Time journal’s particular person of the 12 months.
Trump spent the weeks after the Nov. 5 election holed up at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida assembling a crew to assist lead his subsequent administration.
He and his aides have turn into bullish about Hegseth’s possibilities of profitable Senate affirmation. The Military fight veteran and former Fox News host’s possibilities of changing into protection secretary had appeared in peril amid allegations of extreme consuming, sexual assault and his views on ladies in fight.
DeSantis, a former Navy lawyer who competed in opposition to Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, is among the many possible replacement candidates Trump has thought-about if Hegseth’s bid fizzles.
However Saturday’s sport provided Trump an opportunity to show his dedication to Hegseth’s nomination. The embattled nominee even stood with Trump and Vance for the enjoying of the nationwide anthem.
The temper appeared celebratory for Trump and his crew on Saturday.
Hegseth together with fellow Military veterans Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump’s incoming nationwide safety adviser, and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s decide to function director of nationwide intelligence, posted a brief video on X shortly earlier than the sport to make their allegiances clear.
“We love our Navy, besides right now” mentioned Waltz, a retired Military Nationwide Guard colonel who did a number of fight excursions in Afghanistan, the Center East and Africa.
“Go Military!” Gabbard added.
Trump additionally hung out throughout the sport with Air Drive Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, whose future may very well be on shaky floor within the new Trump administration.
Biden final 12 months tapped Brown for a four-year time period because the nation’s highest-ranking army officer, however army leaders serve on the pleasure of the president.
Brown, a fight pilot and simply the second Black officer to function chairman, spoke out after the police killing of George Floyd, a touchstone second within the Black Lives Matter motion, in regards to the bias he confronted in his personal life and profession.
However Trump has expressed disdain for equity and diversity programs. And his protection secretary decide Hegseth has decried a “woke” agenda that he argues is undermining U.S. army energy. Hegseth, days earlier than he was introduced as Trump’s Pentagon nominee, known as for firing Brown and generals which have promoted range insurance policies in a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL.
Trump additionally made time for Republican lawmakers that he’ll have to get his agenda by way of Congress.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was among the many lawmakers that chatted up Trump on the sport. He introduced with him a contingent of different GOP lawmakers, incoming Senate Majority Chief John Thune and Pennsylvania Sen.-elect David McCormick, that vied for face time with the incoming president weeks earlier than Republicans take management of the White Home and each branches of Congress.
Johnson, who may very well be seen speaking with the president-elect earlier than kickoff, had mentioned he would focus on with Trump plans for a legislative package deal that might transfer by way of Congress subsequent 12 months with a easy majority within the face of anticipated Democratic opposition.
Vance brought Penny, a fellow Marine veteran, as his visitor. Penny was cleared of criminally negligent murder in Neely’s demise after a choose had dismissed a extra severe manslaughter cost final week as a result of the jury deadlocked on that rely.
The case was a flashpoint within the long-standing debates over racial justice and in addition to failures by New York Metropolis to handle homelessness and psychological sickness, each of which Neely had struggled with.
“Daniel’s an excellent man, and New York’s mob district legal professional tried to damage his life for having a spine,” Vance mentioned in a submit on X on Friday. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s capable of have enjoyable and recognize how a lot his fellow residents admire his braveness.”
Democracy In The Steadiness
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Madhani reported from West Palm Seashore, Florida. Related Press author Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
