President Trump on Saturday took part in the opening coin toss during the annual Army-Navy football game at West Point campus in New York.
Fans in the crowd erupted in a standing ovation and roared in cheers, chanting “USA, USA, USA” as Trump entered the field walking down to the field for the national anthem and coin toss. An audience of approximately 9,000 at Michie Stadium was in attendance for Saturday’s 121st Army-Navy game.
Trump arrived at Michie Stadium about a half-hour before the 3 p.m. kickoff and visited both the Army and Navy locker rooms to offer some words of encouragement.
The president presided over the pregame coin flip toss, in which the Navy won by correctly calling tails. After the coin toss, Trump walked into the stands on the Army side of Michie Stadium, where he began the game hanging out with the Army cadets in their section but eventually moved over to join the Navy side during the second quarter of the game.
This will be the first time the Army-Navy game has been played on one of the campuses since 1943. The game was moved to Michie Stadium from its customary site in Philadelphia because COVID-19 regulations in Pennsylvania would not have allowed the Corps of Cadets and Brigade of Midshipmen to attend. The annual Army-Navy game, which is typically played at a neutral site and chocked with chivalry and pageantry, will be played at an academy site for only the sixth time in the 121 games in this esteemed history, according to the Military Times.
Saturday marked Trump’s third straight appearance at the Army-Navy game and fourth since getting elected in 2016. At that year, Trump attended the game as president-elect, joining the on-air coverage in the broadcast booth with CBS.
Only two other sitting presidents have attended at least three Army-Navy games, and only one other has done it in more consecutive years than Trump, according to Newsweek. George W. Bush attended in 2001, 2004, and 2008. Harry Truman attended the game seven-consecutive years (1945-50), and he tacked on another year in 1952.
President Obama attended his only game in 2011 during his eight-year tenure. President Clinton only attended the 1996 contest as well during his two terms as president.
The Army beat their arch-rival the Navy with the final score of 15-0.
45ArmyArmy-Navy FootballFootballMichie StadiumNavyPresident ClintonPresident ObamaPresident TrumpWest Point
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