Broadcasters told not to air any booing of Donald Trump at US Open men's final

[erronis]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/06/broadcasters-told-not-to-air-any-booing-of-donald-trump-at-us-open-mens-final

Trump will appear on big screen during national anthem

Broadcasters asked ‘not to show any disruptions’

Donald Trump at the US Open in 2015, where he was booed by spectators. Photograph: BPI/REX Shutterstock

US Open broadcasters have been asked not to show any negative crowd reactions to Donald Trump at Sunday’s men’s final.

The president is expected to attend the match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in New York, with security at Flushing Meadows being heightened in preparation.

Trump used to be a regular visitor to the US Open but has not been to the tournament since 2015, a year before he was elected president for the first time, when he was booed by spectators.

An email sent to broadcasters by organisers reveals that the 79-year-old will be shown on screen during the singing of the national anthem ahead of the match.

The message adds: “We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showing any disruptions or reactions in response to the president’s attendance in any capacity.”

. . .

He sure knows how to poison any event.

Guess the broadcasters are going to have to filter all the scenes in the bleachers where people are showing their feelings about the "dear leader" with fingers and placards.

[newdeal2]

1. Vain dictator

Now they will guarantee a response that will get recorded on a phone and broadcast over the internet.

[senseandsensibility]

2. The administration telling the broadcaster that

doesn't surprise me at all. If they acquiesce, it's another black mark against journalism in this country.

[RandySF]

3. What a child.

[EarthFirst]

4. ...and they'll do as they're told.

Sigh.

[elleng]

5. BUNCH of PUNKS!!!!

[no_hypocrisy]

6. That won't stop spectators who video the "Boo's" and post on youtube

and elsewhere online.

[Docreed2003]

7. We're being ruled by the whims of a vainglorious dictator

[Xavier Breath]

8. If they don't want boos then just don't put his ugly puss on the screen during the anthem.

Problem solved.

[Deuxcents]

10. He doesn't want to be booed, he should stay away.

I’ll bet he’s not gonna sit thru the whole game, anyway.

[hlthe2b]

9. US carrier is ESPN...Sky in UK. Maybe clips will be played by other networks, but damn...

I pay a shitload to get this on ESPN, so if they give in to his demands, I will have a major decision to make. And while I mainly have it for college football--which I look forward to for months, I will certainly be tempted to ditch it.

[MerryBlooms]

11. Best thing would be thousands of tennis balls tossed his way with booing

Highest Open ratings ever! 😆

[AZJonnie]

12. During the anthem it's easy for them to simply have all the mikes off

However, during the match? Can't really mute it if the crowd breaks into a Fuck Donald Trump chant. Which means ESPN will have to run the broadcast with enough delay to catch it. The public will know it's happening if the sound gets strangely quiet and/or the broadcast suddenly goes to commercials.

Would love to see some kind of organized protest happen. Maybe in between sets, like 100 tacos (like a stuffed animal kind) get tossed onto the court