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President Donald Trump did not receive a warm reception at the Washington Commanders-Detroit Lions game on Sunday.
Over the Northwest Stadium public address system, Trump read the names of those enlisting in the U.S. military as part of the NFL’s “Salute to Service” festivities ahead of Veterans Day. However, Commanders fans booed.
The reaction didn’t surprise former NFL player and military veteran Alejandro Villanueva.
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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva stands for the national anthem before playing against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field. (Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports)
“There’s a lot of political division in the United States, maybe in the world as well, regarding who the president is. It’s unfortunate,” he told PK Press Club Digital in a recent interview. “I mean, obviously, I wish we lived in a place where we had a lot more agreements, but this is America. You protect everyone’s freedoms and rights to protest and express themselves however they want.”
Villanueva also hopes that civilians don’t get to the point where they feel like the military only supports one political side.
“I hope that we don’t create the military in a class where Americans feel that it supports one political party or another, because I think that military-civilian relations are one of the most special and crucial aspects of our military, and it’s the fact that we’ve been able to be, you know, the power that we are now.”
President Donald Trump speaks from a suite alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, left, during halftime of an NFL football game between the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
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Trump received a mix of cheers and boos as he arrived at the stadium from Mar-a-Lago. He spent the morning playing golf and demanding that Democrats end the government shutdownwhich finally ended late Wednesday evening.
Before leaving Landover, he spent time in the Fox broadcast booth calling the game with Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma.
THE Commanders welcomed Trump at the stadium a few days before the match.
People raise their hands as they take the oath of office during a U.S. Army reenlistment ceremony during an NFL game between the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, Nov. 9, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
“We are honored to welcome President Trump to the game as we celebrate those who have served and continue to serve our country,” Commanders Chairman Mark Clouse said earlier this week. “The entire Commanders organization is proud to participate in the NFL’s league-wide Salute to Service initiative, recognizing the dedication and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans, active duty military personnel and their families this Sunday.”
