Donald Trump took his seat at the 125th edition of the Army-Navy game, where he was joined by MAGA loyalists, including embattled Pentagon pick and Army veteran Pete Hegseth.
The president-elect was seen with his running mate, Marine Corps veteran JD Vance, as well as Elon Musk, Senator-elect Dave McCormick, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, national intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard and several others.
But notably absent from his entourage was Florida Governor Ron DeSantis – who has emerged as Trump’s back-up defense nominee amid the allegations of sexual harassment swirling around Hegseth.
It is a decision which could backfire for Trump, who is reportedly hoping DeSantis will appoint his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as the Sunshine State’s next senator, replacing Marco Rubio.
Trump waved to adoring fans, many of whom represent the US Naval Academy at Annapolis or the US Military Academy at West Point on Saturday at the meeting between the two schools.
Elsewhere, DeSantis was pictured posing for photos with his wife Casey DeSantis, their son and some West Point students on the field before the showdown begun but was not seen in the president-elect’s private suite.
Further straining the already fraught relationship between former GOP rivals Trump and DeSantis is vice-president Vance, who is lobbying to get Hegseth confirmed.
Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth are seen left to right
Elon Musk is seen grinning at the Army-Navy game between Donald Trump and JD Vance
Vice President-elect JD Vance (left) and Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth (right)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also attended the game with his wife and son (pictured)
Trump looks out at Northwest Stadium, home to the Commanders, in Landover, Maryland
Republican heir-apparent Vance is said to be growing anxious about DeSantis being appointed defense chief as it could boost the Florida Governor’s profile, possibly paving the way for a 2028 White House Run.
Also in attendance is Daniel Penny, a military veteran who was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide this week in the chokehold death of an agitated subway rider in New York.
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Penny was invited by Vance, who accused prosecutors of trying to ‘ruin’ Penny’s life by charging the Marine veteran in the death of Jordan Neely in 2023.
Kickoff was after 3pm EST at Northwest Stadium, home to the NFL’s Washington Commanders, in Landover, Maryland and saw the Navy Midshipmen secure the victory 31-13.
Army (11-1) is ranked 19th in The Associated Press Top 25 after beating Tulane on December 6 to win the American Athletic Conference — the first league title of any kind in the team’s 134-year history.
Navy (8-3) was ranked earlier this season after starting with six straight victories.
Trump, who attended Army-Navy games as president-elect in 2016 and as POTUS 2019, has been making an increasing number of public appearances before his inauguration on January 20, 2025.
He was accompanied by his family and Vance on Thursday as he rang the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange after being recognized as Time magazine’s person of the year.
He’s also made a habit of attending college football games , such as the 2018 and 2020 College Football Playoff National Championships, as well as rivalry matchups between Georgia and Alabama, Iowa and Iowa State, as well as Clemson and South Carolina during the 2024 campaign.
One person who wasn’t in attendance: President Joe Biden.
Pete Hegseth was all smiles as he posed up with the president-elect despite facing allegations of sexual harassment which threaten to derail his cabinet position
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Remarkably, Biden has never attended an Army-Navy game during his presidency – and now the President is taking some heat from Trump supporters.
‘Why didn’t Joe Biden attend an Army Navy football game?’ one Trump supporter asked on X ahead of Saturday’s rivalry game.
Biden’s absence is particularly conspicuous this season as the game is being played in nearby Landover, Maryland, where the NFL’s Washington Commanders play their home games.
‘C’mon!’ one X user wrote about the 82-year-old Biden. ‘You expect him to stay awake for 3 hours?’
Another suggested Biden ‘doesn’t want to be booed.’
And it’s not just Republicans. A Democrat and admitted supporter of the President admitted he ‘will never understand why Biden did not go to Army/Navy game last year and why he is not going this year.’