When Air Force One flew over Washington, 67,000 spectators looked up at the same time. At that moment, the NFL's Sunday football game was not just a sports event, but rather an epic entrance meticulously orchestrated for power.
President Donald Trump of the United States took off from a golf course in Florida aboard Air Force One, circling over the Northwest Stadium in Washington suburbs — just before the Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders game began. He called the low-altitude flyover "the greatest flight display in history," and boasted to his accompanying reporters, "No one has ever done this kind of flyby. It was truly perfect."
This was the first time a sitting U.S. president had personally attended a regular-season NFL game since 1978. But this appearance was not just about watching a game; it was a performance.
"The Greatest Flyover"
Under the afternoon sun at the Northwest Stadium, military honor guards stood in formation — this was the league's annual "Salute to Service" day. As Air Force One flew low, the crowd erupted with applause and whistles, but also mixed with a wave of boos.
This was a Trump-style spectacle: grand, divisive, and dramatic.
He appeared on the VIP balcony, smiling and waving to the audience, surrounded by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Commerce Secretary Howard L. R. "Bud" Carson, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Some fans chanted "U-S-A!" while others shouted "Go home!" That tumultuous contradiction itself mirrored Trump's political life — where applause and hostility coexisted, equally contributing to his visibility.
Watching the Game or Making a Show?
In the third quarter, Trump entered the Fox broadcast booth, chatting with host Kenny Albert and former star Jonathan Vilma. He reminisced about his days playing football at the New York Military Academy, joking, "I never scored a touchdown, which at least means I don't lie," drawing laughter.
He then talked about sports philosophy: "Sports is a microcosm of life: there are victories, there are setbacks. The key is never to give up."
This is typical Trump rhetoric: steering any topic toward "struggle and victory." He seemed to be talking about football, but he was actually talking about himself — the political star who repeatedly faces defeat but always creates dramatic reversals.
He even commented on the game: "That backup quarterback has potential, but he needs to learn not to get hurt again." This "amateur analysis" almost turned the broadcast into an impromptu show. On the other end of the camera, Trump supporters wrote comments on social media: "This is a symbol of patriotism, the return of strong leadership."
"He's Here," Politics as a Stage
The game itself was unremarkable. The Detroit Lions led 25-10 early, with little suspense. What really drew the camera's attention was the figure — the president.
During the halftime ceremony, Trump presided over the military oath of enlistment. When he raised his hand in salute, half the audience cheered, and half booed. He looked slightly surprised, his mouth momentarily stiff, then quickly regained his smile.
This was precisely his most skilled performance moment: winning the camera despite being booed. For Trump, every appearance was not just a political act, but a declaration of existence. As he once said, "Whether people love me or hate me, they're watching me."
Thus, the football field became an extension of the White House.
NFL and Trump: From Conflict to Dance
In 2017, Trump first clashed with the NFL. At that time, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, sparking nationwide controversy. Trump denounced at a rally, "Any player who dares to kneel during the national anthem should be fired!"
This incident put him at odds with NFL executives, making sports a front line of politics. But today, he stood at the center stage of the league's military memorial event.
This was a highly symbolic "reconciliation": the NFL needed audiences and the image of the military, while Trump needed cameras and flags. They both understood that in a divided America, patriotism remains the most effective common language.
Therefore, when Air Force One flew over the field, it was not just a flyby, but a ritualistic "return" — "The President has returned to the people's game."
The Implication of "Trump Field"
But this sports show had a deeper layer.
On the day before the game, ESPN revealed that the White House had conveyed the president's wishes to the Washington Commanders' management through intermediaries — Trump hoped the team's new stadium would be named after him.
The stadium plan will cost nearly $4 billion, built on the old RFK Stadium site. White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt even publicly stated, "That will be a beautiful name. After all, it was President Trump who made this new stadium possible."
This sounds like a joke, yet it reveals Trump's brand logic — he doesn't just want to win votes, but also wants American landmarks to bear his name.
As he once renamed skyscrapers, hotels, and golf courses with "TRUMP" — now, he wants to imprint "TRUMP" on the nation's game and glory.
Applause, Boos, and the Illusion of Power
The security level that night was unprecedented. Secret Service, military, and police were densely stationed in the stands; spectators had to go through multiple security checks, and even walking paths were equipped with fences. A simple evening of watching a game had become a national security event.
And in the stands, some wept, while others turned and left. One spectator wrote on social media, "This isn't a game, it's a ritual — a ritual about who represents America."
Trump may have already realized that in a divided country, rituals create more resonance than policies. He replaced speeches with flyovers, debates with salutes, and his own presence overlapped with the symbol of "patriotism." He didn't need to win everyone — as long as no one could ignore him.
Sports, Politics, and Faith: The "Common Church" of America
In America, the football field is not just a space for entertainment, but a theater of national narrative. From "the flag flying high" to military planes flying over, from halftime ceremonies to national anthem singing, an NFL game is almost a miniature of America.
And Trump's political drama perfectly aligns with this ritualistic populist culture. He transformed national politics into a performance, and presidential power into a brand. The flying plane, the boos and applause, the military salute, the TV camera, the red-hatted crowds — these symbols together weave a new political language: "I am America."
He Always Knows Where the Camera Is
The game ended with the Lions defeating the Commanders 32-16. However, for Trump, the result was irrelevant — because when the camera focused on the blue and white plane soaring through the night sky, his name once again overshadowed the score. This is his unique ability: to make every event his stage.
Perhaps, he no longer cares about the NFL, votes, or policies. What he cares about is when Americans look up at the plane in the sky, the name that comes to their mind — TRUMP.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7571013720650940971/
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