LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump was huddling with allies and a Republican trigger célèbre at Saturday’s Military-Navy soccer recreation, taking in probably the most storied rivalries in faculty sports activities whereas spotlighting his rising nationwide safety workforce.
Trump was joined by Vice President-elect JD Vance, embattled Pentagon choose Pete Hegseth, potential backup protection secretary choice Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and others for the one hundred and twenty fifth matchup between service academies.
Additionally attending was Daniel Penny, a navy veteran who was acquitted of criminally negligent murder this week within the chokehold demise of an agitated subway rider in New York. Penny was invited by Vance, who accused prosecutors of attempting to “ruin” 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 Division of Authorities Effectivity, appeared on the scoreboard video display.
The president mouthed “thank you” and the group erupted in a chant of “USA, USA!” Trump and his entourage took within the recreation from a collection at Northwest Stadium.
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 Inventory Alternate after being acknowledged as Time journal’s particular person of the yr.
Trump spent the weeks after the Nov. 5 election holed up at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida assembling a workforce to assist lead his subsequent administration.
He and his aides have turn into bullish about Hegseth’s probabilities of profitable Senate affirmation. The Military fight veteran and former Fox Information host’s probabilities of turning 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 towards Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, is among the many attainable substitute candidates Trump has thought of if Hegseth’s bid fizzles.
The temper appeared celebratory for Trump and his workforce on Saturday.
Hegseth together with fellow Military veterans Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump’s incoming nationwide safety adviser, and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s choose 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, except today” stated Waltz, a retired Military Nationwide Guard colonel who did a number of fight excursions in Afghanistan, the Center East and Africa.
“Go Army!” Gabbard added.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was among the many lawmakers chatting up Trump on the recreation. 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 three branches of the federal authorities.
Johnson, who could possibly be seen speaking with the president-elect earlier than kickoff, had stated he would focus on with Trump plans for a legislative bundle that would transfer by means of Congress subsequent yr with a easy majority within the face of anticipated Democratic opposition.
Vance introduced Penny, a fellow Marine veteran, as his visitor. Penny was cleared of criminally negligent murder in Neely’s demise after a decide had dismissed a extra severe manslaughter cost final week as a result of the jury deadlocked on that depend.
The case was a flashpoint within the long-standing debates over racial justice and in addition to failures by New York Metropolis to deal with homelessness and psychological sickness, each of which Neely had struggled with.
“Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance stated in a submit on X on Friday. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”
Military (11-1) is ranked nineteenth in The Related Press Prime 25 after beating Tulane on Dec. 6 to win the American Athletic Convention — the primary league title of any type within the workforce’s 134-year historical past. Navy (8-3) was ranked earlier this season after beginning with six straight victories
Madhani reported from West Palm Seaside, Florida. Related Press author Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
