WATCH: Crowd Chants ‘USA’ As Trump Returns To Army-Navy Game

President-elect Donald Trump attended the iconic Army-Navy college football game on Saturday, marking the fifth time he has attended the historic matchup.

Trump was joined by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and a number of additional cabinet nominees and key Republican leaders, including Tulsi Gabbard, who has been nominated for Director of National Intelligence, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Pete Hegseth, a multi-tour War on Terror veteran and Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, was also front and center alongside Trump and Vance.

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Hegseth has faced an avalanche of smear campaigns since being selected as Trump’s nominee. A number of left-wing and establishment Republican figures have claimed Hegseth is too inexperienced for the position, while mainstream media outlets have run completely unfounded stories accusing him of sexual misconduct and heavy drinking.

Trump has stood behind Hegseth, who has vowed to re-center Pentagon policy “on the warfighters” and improve the nation’s military readiness after years of falling recruitment numbers under the Biden Administration.

The crowd — the majority of which consists of military veterans and their families — could be heard chanting “USA” as Trump and Vance took their seats. Trump also appeared on the nationally televised broadcast as he was giving a salute during the national anthem.

Donald Trump salutes during the national anthem. Joe Biden didn’t go for the past four years. Great to have the president back at Army-Navy. pic.twitter.com/eJ0RnPSGHe

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 14, 2024

Marine veteran Daniel Penny was also spotted in the presidential suite. Penny, 25, was recently acquitted after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg criminally charged him in connection with the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man who was threatening to kill passengers on a New York City subway line. Penny subdued Neely — who had been arrested 42 times — after he threatened a mother who was carrying a small child.

Penny was invited to attend the iconic game by Vice President-elect Vance, a fellow Marine veteran.

Saturday’s game marked the fifth time Trump has attended the Army-Navy game, as he attended all four matchups during his first time. President Biden did not attend a single Army-Navy game while serving as commander-in-chief.

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