‘Awesome He Was Here’: NFL Stars React To Playing In Front Of Trump

As the Washington Commanders hosted the Detroit Lions on Sunday, it was a point to the stands and the “Trump Dance” that reminded everyone in Northwest Stadium that President Donald Trump was watching.

The “Trump Dance” was Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s touchdown celebration as his team took a two-score lead in the first quarter. Many athletes have done Trump’s signature moves to celebrate a score, throwing their arms up and shaking their hips like Trump did so many times on the campaign trail in 2024 — but Sunday’s celebration was different because St. Brown knew Trump would see it.

“I heard Trump was going to be at the game, I don’t know how many times the president is going to be at the game, so I just decided to have some fun and do his dance,” St. Brown said following the Lions 44-22 win.

Amon-Ra St. Brown does the Trump dance as his touchdown celebration! pic.twitter.com/XJils87EXs

— Ryan Ermanni (@ErmanniMedia) November 9, 2025

It isn’t often a president comes to an NFL game. Trump is the first sitting president to attend a regular-season game since President Jimmy Carter did so in 1978. After the game, some Lions described what it was like to play in front of the president.

“I did see him on the big screen … the place got pretty loud,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said. “So yeah, it was cool, awesome that he was here.”

“You’re talking about the President of the United States, that’s a big deal,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said.

Campbell admitted he was too locked in to notice the president during the game, but Goff said Trump’s entrance on Air Force One was hard to miss.

“Did I see the plane? Yeah, I saw the plane … that was freaking cool, whatever side of politics you’re on, it was cool to see the thing that low,” Goff said.

Trump was at the game for the Salute to Service halftime ceremony, where dozens of military enlistees were sworn in by the president. Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, isn’t exactly Trump country, and many fans in the crowd booed when Trump appeared on the screen and swore in the enlistees.

Trump getting booed at the Commanders game pic.twitter.com/ZKgoLqvpqz

— Acyn (@Acyn) November 9, 2025

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said the Salute to Service was extremely important to him, especially since he’s the coach of the team representing the nation’s capital.

“Man thats a big deal and that’s not ever lost of me,” Quinn said. “Some of the biggest heavy hitters in our country in the military were here at our game today watching football. I definitely wanted to give them a better performance today than we did.”

Trump stayed after halftime to spend some time in the broadcasting booth with Fox Sports broadcasters Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma. The three talked about Trump’s love for football that dates back to his playing days in the early 60s.

“I played tight end, but it was not quite football like this. It was a little bit easier. It wasn’t so tough,” Trump said.

WATCH IN FULL: President Donald J. Trump joins @NFLonFOX in the booth during the @Commanders–@Lions game pic.twitter.com/xajpIVYfK1

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 9, 2025

While in the booth, Trump discussed why he loves sports so much.

“It’s a microcosm of life. It’s sorta like life, the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

Vilma, who got to show off his Super Bowl ring to Trump, asked the president how the country was doing.

“Well, we’re doing great,” Trump said. “Our stock market hit an all-time high, prices are coming down. We inherited a mess, prices are coming way down. And I’ll tell you our country has over $17 trillion being invested which is a record, so we’re doing great.”

Trump then brought the attention back to the gridiron as the Commanders scored what Trump called a much-needed touchdown.

“That was very important.”

The president spent Sunday afternoon at the game and in the broadcast booth as a football fan before going back to work. On Monday morning, Trump posted a video of St. Brown’s “Trump Dance,” capping off a memorable game day for the players and himself.