During a recent NFL game between the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions, a moment of political and cultural significance unfolded on the field that drew widespread attention and sparked conversation across social media and sports news outlets. The game, held at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on Sunday, November 9, 2025, featured an unusual guest in attendance: President Donald Trump, who was watching from the FOX broadcast booth. This marked a historic occasion, as Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend a regular-season NFL game since Jimmy Carter did so in 1978.
The presence of President Trump added a layer of intrigue to the game, especially when Detroit Lions star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrated a touchdown with a tribute that directly acknowledged the president. After scoring, St. Brown performed Trump’s signature dance move and then pointed toward the president in the stands, a gesture that immediately caught the attention of fans and commentators alike. The celebration was met with mixed reactions, sparking both praise and criticism, and leading St. Brown to publicly address the incident in the days that followed.
On Wednesday after the game, St. Brown spoke about the touchdown celebration during an episode of his podcast. He expressed regret if anyone had been offended by his tribute but clarified that his intent was simply to have fun and celebrate the moment. “If I offended anyone, I do apologize. I did not mean to offend anyone. It was just, we’re having fun,” St. Brown said. He emphasized that his dance was not meant to be a political statement or an endorsement of any particular figure. “If any president was at that game, if they had a dance, I would have done it. It had nothing to do with who the president was,” he explained. For St. Brown, the celebration was about marking a unique moment in NFL history, as he noted that the president’s attendance broke a more than four-decade absence of sitting presidents at regular-season games.
While some fans and players found the celebration lighthearted, others reacted critically. Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who has ties to Detroit and played college football at the University of Michigan, appeared to call out St. Brown for his dance in a social media post. Lewis’s comments suggested discomfort with the celebration taking place in a predominantly Black city; he wrote, “The truth comes to light,” and separately asked, “You do that in one of the blackest cities in America?” However, Lewis later deleted the post, indicating possible reconsideration or backlash. The incident highlighted the complex intersection of sports, politics, and social issues, especially given the ongoing national conversations about race and representation.
On the field, St. Brown’s performance was strong as the Lions decisively defeated the Washington Commanders 44-22. St. Brown contributed five catches for 58 yards and scored the touchdown that sparked the viral celebration. Meanwhile, President Trump’s attendance was notable not only for its historical significance but also for the broader context of his presence at sporting events over the past year. Trump has been visible at several major sports venues, including NFL games with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Super Bowl, UFC fights, the Daytona 500, the U.S. Open, and the Ryder Cup, maintaining a prominent profile in the world of sports entertainment.
The game also featured a moment of controversy involving some Washington Commanders fans, who booed President Trump during the NFL’s “Salute to Service” ceremony. This part of the event involved reading the names of new enlistees in the U.S. military over the public address system, with the military members present in the stadium in honor of Veterans Day. The boos directed at Trump during a solemn moment recognizing military service underscored the divided opinions about the president, especially in the Washington, D.C., area, where his popularity has been affected by recent political developments, including a government shutdown.
Adding another layer to the story, reports surfaced days before the game that President Trump had expressed interest in having the Washington Commanders’ new $3.7 billion stadium named after him. While the White House did not officially confirm this, press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented that such a naming “would surely be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible.” This potential naming plan further fueled discussions about Trump’s influence on the team and the stadium project, intertwining sports, politics, and business interests.