Trump attends the Army-Navy game alongside key allies, nominees and Daniel Penny
LANDOVER, Maryland — President-elect Donald Trump was surrounded by allies and a prominent Republican figure at Saturday’s Army-Navy football game, a notable occasion that highlights one of the most storied rivalries in college sports while shedding light on his emerging national security team.
In attendance with Trump were Vice President-elect JD Vance, embattled Pentagon nominee Pete Hegseth, potential defense replacement Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and other key political figures for the 125th matchup between the service academies.
Also present was Daniel Penny, a military veteran recently acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in connection with the chokehold death of a troubled subway rider in New York. Vance extended the invitation to Penny, criticizing prosecutors for seeking to “ruin” Penny’s life with charges stemming from the death of Jordan Neely in 2023.
Trump, who had previously attended Army-Navy games as president-elect in 2016 and during his first term, has been increasing his public appearances leading up to his inauguration on January 20, 2025. He was seen ringing the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange earlier this week, accompanied by his family and Vance, after being named Time magazine’s person of the year.
Since the November 5 election, Trump has been at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, assembling a team to lead his upcoming administration. He and his aides are optimistic about Hegseth’s Senate confirmation prospects despite earlier concerns related to his personal conduct and views on women in combat roles.
DeSantis, who previously competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination and has military experience as a former Navy lawyer, is considered among the potential candidates should Hegseth’s confirmation falter.
Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump, expressed confidence in Hegseth’s chances during a recent Newsmax interview, stating that Hegseth has successfully navigated challenging scrutiny. “This is someone who’s literally been shot at on the battlefield,” Miller said, emphasizing the importance of having someone with real combat experience leading the Department of Defense.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, representing Louisiana, was also expected to attend the game, along with a group of other GOP lawmakers seeking to engage with the incoming president during this transition period as Republicans prepare to take control of the three branches of government.
Johnson expressed interest in discussing a legislative package with Trump that could be positioned for passage through Congress next year, even with anticipated opposition from Democrats.
Vance mentioned that Penny, a fellow Marine veteran, had accepted his invitation to join Trump in his suite on the Army side for the game. Penny was recently cleared of criminal charges after a judge dismissed a more serious manslaughter charge related to Neely’s death.
The verdict in Penny’s case sparked debates on issues of racial justice and the systemic failures in New York City regarding homelessness and mental health, challenges that have long plagued the city.
“Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance commented on social media. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”
Hegseth planned to be in a suite accompanied by some Medal of Honor recipients, adding to the significance of the gathering.
Trump’s nominations for Navy secretary, John Phelan, a businessman with no military service background, and for Army secretary, Dan Driscoll, an Iraq War veteran and former senior adviser to Vance, are also expected to be present.
Kickoff is set for after 3 p.m. EST at Northwest Stadium, home to the NFL’s Washington Commanders, in Landover, Maryland.
This year’s Army (11-1) team is ranked 19th in The Associated Press Top 25 after defeating Tulane to secure the American Athletic Conference title, the first league championship in the 134-year history of the program. Navy (8-3) had also been ranked earlier in the season after starting with six consecutive victories.
