Even though President Joe Biden is known to enjoy sports, especially on the East Coast, he has never attended the Army-Navy football game during his time in office. This absence has recently become a topic of criticism, especially from supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Ahead of the Army-Navy game this season, one Trump supporter posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Why didn’t Joe Biden attend an Army-Navy football game?” This raised questions, especially since the game was being played this year in Landover, Maryland, close to where the NFL’s Washington Commanders play.
One commenter joked about Biden’s age, saying, “C’mon! You expect him to stay awake for 3 hours?” Another person speculated that Biden might be avoiding the game because he doesn’t want to be booed by the crowd.
Even some Democrats have expressed confusion over Biden’s decision. A Democrat who supports Biden admitted, “I will never understand why Biden did not go to Army/Navy game last year and why he is not going this year.”
While Biden won’t be attending, former President Donald Trump has plans to be there. He is expected to be joined by various influential figures, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, Pete Hegseth (who could be a future Pentagon pick), Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and others for the 125th match between the two military academies.
One of the notable guests for Trump’s suite will be Daniel Penny, a military veteran who was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide after being involved in the 2023 death of Jordan Neely in New York. Penny was invited by Vance, who has been vocal about the charges and criticized the prosecution of Penny.
Army, with an impressive 11-1 record, is currently ranked 19th in the Associated Press Top 25 after winning the American Athletic Conference. Navy, with a record of 8-3, was ranked earlier in the season after winning six games in a row. The game will be held at Northwest Stadium, the home of the Washington Commanders, in Landover, Maryland, with the kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. EST.
Trump has been making more public appearances as his inauguration approaches in January 2025. He recently rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange and was named Time’s Person of the Year. His attendance at major college football games is also notable. He has previously attended national championship games and rivalry matchups like Georgia vs. Alabama and Clemson vs. South Carolina during the 2024 season.
Following the November election, Trump spent time at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, preparing for his next term. He and his team are optimistic about Pete Hegseth’s chances of becoming the next Defense Secretary, despite some controversies surrounding him.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a former rival in the Republican presidential race, is also being considered as a potential replacement for Hegseth if things don’t go as planned with his confirmation. Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump, expressed confidence in Hegseth’s confirmation during a recent Newsmax interview, saying that Hegseth’s background, including serving in the military, makes him highly qualified for the role.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, along with other GOP lawmakers, is also expected to attend the Army-Navy game to meet with Trump ahead of Republicans taking control of the government in 2025. Johnson plans to discuss a legislative package with Trump that could be passed with a simple majority in Congress, despite opposition from Democrats.
Vance has confirmed that Daniel Penny, who was cleared of charges in the death of Jordan Neely, will be attending the game with Trump in his suite. The case has sparked debates around racial justice and the treatment of homelessness, with Vance expressing his belief that the prosecutors had unfairly targeted Penny.
Trump has also nominated John Phelan, a businessman with no military experience, to serve as Navy Secretary, and Dan Driscoll, a former Army officer, as Army Secretary. Both are expected to attend the game as well.
Even with the focus on individual figures like Trump and his team, the Army-Navy game remains a key tradition in college football. Both teams have had successful seasons, and for each academy, the ultimate goal is to win the game.
Army’s quarterback, Bryson Daily, has had a standout season with 29 rushing touchdowns, which ties him for the most in the FBS this year. He’s just two touchdowns away from breaking the record of 31 set by Navy’s Keenan Reynolds in 2013. Daily shared his excitement about the game, saying, “You come here to play in this game. The biggest stage possible, millions of people watching, and a sold-out NFL stadium. It’s awesome. None of the games that happened before this matter. We’re going into this game like we’re 0-0, they’re 0-0 because that’s just how you have to come into this game.”
With both teams highly motivated to win, the Army-Navy game promises to be another thrilling chapter in the history of this classic rivalry.
