Vice President-elect JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth, and Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, were seen waving from a box at the stadium alongside the president-elect. The presence of the president-elect added additional significance to the tradition and grandeur that precedes the rivalry game between the nation’s service academies.
A loud cheer erupted as Trump appeared on the stadium’s video boards. The atmosphere was electrifying as the crowd welcomed the distinguished guests. Also in attendance were tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is set to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump's administration, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and GOP Sen.-elect Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania.
Notably, Daniel Penny, the former Marine who was acquitted on criminal charges this week in the death of Jordan Neely, was spotted in the presidential suite. Vance had extended an invitation to Penny following his acquittal by a jury on a criminally negligent homicide charge. The case had sparked discussions about subway safety in New York City and the concept of self-defense.
This marked the fifth occasion that Trump attended the rivalry matchup, having done so three times during his presidency and now twice as president-elect. The gathering of prominent figures at the game underscored the significance of the event and highlighted the camaraderie among political and military leaders.
