Trump at the US Open: a historic visit, or an awkward twist?

When Donald Trump takes his seat at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, it won’t just be another VIP appearance. It will mark the first time in 25 years that a sitting president has attended the US Open final.

As AP News reported, Trump will attend as a guest in a private suite, invited by one of the tournament’s sponsors.

Elsewhere in the Grand Slam world, presidents and prime ministers are familiar sights. French presidents, from Mitterrand to Macron, have treated Roland Garros finals as state occasions. The Australian Open often welcomes prime ministers, while Wimbledon attracts the royal family rather than political leaders. In the U.S., however, with all the security concerns and political theater, presidents have rarely set foot in Arthur Ashe Stadium while in office.

The last time was in 2000, when Bill Clinton watched the women’s final between Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport.

Two American stars on the biggest stage of American tennis, with the president in the box — the symbolism was impossible to miss. Venus triumphed, lifting her first US Open trophy, turning the match into a landmark chapter in the rise of American dominance in women’s tennis. Clinton’s presence sealed the moment as both sporting and national history.

This time, the script doesn’t quite fit.

Trump’s visit carries a more awkward twist. Unlike Clinton, he won’t be there to support an American hopeful. The men’s final will feature Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, American Amanda Anisimova faces Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s final — yet Trump chose Sunday. The irony is clear: past leaders usually appeared when their compatriots were in the spotlight, but Trump seems more interested in being close to the loudest winner, regardless of the flag.

For the tennis industry, though, that distinction may not matter. A presidential visit brings tighter security and some inconvenience for ticket holders, but also global headlines and amplified interest in the tournament. The presence of a sitting president underlines that tennis is not only a sport, but also a political and cultural stage. For players, organizers, and brands, that is ultimately good news: the more attention, the brighter the spotlight.

Cover photo: Depositpotos, edited by Racket One.