Donald Trump booed at Tennessee-Texas game as midterms loom
TheGrio...
The president’s appearance at Neyland Stadium drew cheers and boos from the crowd as Republicans head into a pivotal stretch before the November elections.
President Donald Trump got some boos Saturday during the Tennessee-Texas football game, when he appeared on the Jumbotron at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
The reaction was mixed, with plenty of cheers also coming from the sold-out crowd of roughly 100,000. But the audible boos added another moment to Trump’s growing history of encountering resistance at major sporting events.
Trump was seated in a suite with Tennessee Republican Sens. Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee for governor, as No. 1 Texas faced No. 14 Tennessee in one of the biggest games of the college football season.
When Trump appeared on the stadium screen during the first half, some fans booed while others cheered. Trump responded by pumping his fist toward the crowd.
The response was notably different from some of Trump’s recent appearances at sporting events, where boos have been more pronounced.
In June, Trump was booed by portions of the crowd when he attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. theGrio had previewed the appearance weeks earlier, noting Trump’s history of being booed at sporting events, including the 2019 World Series and a 2025 NFL game between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions.
Trump was also booed during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. Sections of the crowd booed when he appeared on the stadium screens and again when he joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino for the trophy presentation after Spain defeated Argentina. (The Grio)
The 2019 World Series produced perhaps the most memorable example. Trump was loudly booed and jeered when he was introduced during Game 5 between the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros at Nationals Park. The crowd also broke into chants of “Lock him up.” TheGrio covered the moment.
College football has generally been friendlier territory for Trump. His appearances at the 2019 Alabama-LSU game and the 2024 Georgia-Alabama matchup drew enthusiastic support. He was also booed at the 2023 Clemson-South Carolina game.
Saturday’s reaction in Knoxville came as Trump and Republicans enter the final stretch before the 2026 midterm elections.
The president remains popular with much of the Republican base, but his party is facing a difficult political environment heading into November. Concerns about the economy, rising costs and the administration’s handling of the war in Iran are among the issues creating pressure for Republicans.
That tension was visible around Neyland Stadium even beyond the Jumbotron.
The Washington Post spoke with Trump voters attending the game who expressed concerns about some of his policies, including the war in Iran. One Trump voter said he disagreed with the president’s decision to enter the conflict but still supported him. Another fan said he booed Trump’s appearance because he did not want the president at the game.
Trump left the stadium at halftime. Texas went on to beat Tennessee 20-17.
For a president who has increasingly made high-profile sporting events part of his public schedule, Saturday’s appearance offered another reminder that the reception can depend heavily on the room, the crowd and the moment.
In Knoxville, Trump still had plenty of supporters in the stands. But they weren’t the only ones making themselves heard.