On Saturday, December 14th, the President-elect Donald Trump, along with allies and prominent Republican figures, attended a college sports event to watch a legendary military academy rivalry match between the Army and Navy teams. This event also served as a platform to showcase his newly formed national security team.
Prior to the kickoff at the Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, Trump was warmly welcomed by the crowd as he arrived. The presence of the President-elect, his Vice President-elect JD Vance, and potential nominees like Pete Hegseth and Ron DeSantis added to the excitement of the 125th edition of the military academy rivalry game.
The atmosphere was electrified with chants of “USA! USA!” as Trump, Vance, and Elon Musk, whom Trump has appointed to lead the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), appeared on the scoreboard video screen, eliciting cheers from the audience.
Trump expressed gratitude amidst the chants and watched the game with his entourage from a VIP box at the stadium. This event marked his continued public appearances as the presidential inauguration on January 20th approached. Just recently, he was named the Person of the Year by Time magazine and participated in ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange with his family and Vance.
Following the election on November 5th, Trump had been assembling a team at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to assist in leading the next administration. He and his aides are optimistic about Hegseth’s chances of Senate confirmation. However, uncertainties loom over Hegseth’s nomination as Secretary of Defense due to past allegations and controversial views on women in combat.
DeSantis, a former Navy lawyer and past rival of Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, could be considered as an alternative if Hegseth’s nomination falls through. The confidence of Trump and his team was evident during Saturday’s game.
Prior to the game, Hegseth, joined by Trump-nominated national security advisor Mike Waltz and intelligence agency director candidate Tulsi Gabbard, shared a short video on X platform expressing loyalty to Trump’s endeavors. Waltz, a retired Army National Guard colonel, highlighted his combat experience in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. Gabbard voiced her support for the Army team with a spirited cheer of “Go Army!”
House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana, soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader John Thune from South Dakota, and Pennsylvania Senator-elect David McCormick were also present at the game, engaging in conversations with Trump. With Republicans soon to control all branches of the federal government, the rare opportunity for these figures to meet with the incoming President was significant.
Johnson discussed legislative plans with Trump that are expected to pass with a simple majority in Congress next year, despite potential opposition from the Democrats. Among the attendees was Daniel Penny, a former serviceman recently acquitted of charges related to a subway incident in New York. He was invited as a special guest by Vance to witness the game.
Vance condemned prosecutors for attempting to ruin Penny’s life by holding him accountable for the death of Jordan Neely in 2023. Vance expressed his satisfaction with Penny’s presence at the event and acknowledged his courage and character, as well as the admiration shared by others.
The Army team, with a record of 11-1, secured the American Athletic Conference championship after defeating Tulane University on December 6th, ranking 19th in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, marking their first league championship in the team’s 134-year history. The Navy team, with an 8-3 record, had an impressive start to the season with six consecutive victories.
(Information sourced from the Associated Press.)