If you were watching the big game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs in February 2025, you probably noticed the atmosphere was a bit... charged. More than usual. When the cameras panned to the luxury box at the Caesars Superdome, there he was: Donald Trump.
He made history that night as the first sitting U.S. president to ever attend a Super Bowl in person. But the question everyone has been arguing about on social media since then is simple: Was Trump cheered at the Super Bowl, or was he booed out of the building?
Honestly, the answer depends entirely on which side of the stadium you were sitting in—or which news clip you watched the next morning. It wasn't a "one-size-fits-all" reaction.
The Big Entrance: Cheers, Jeers, and Jumbotrons
When Trump first appeared on the stadium's massive Jumbotron during the national anthem, the sound was deafening. FOX’s broadcast picked up what sounded like a "raucous" roar of support. Trump, standing between New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and his daughter Ivanka, offered a formal salute as Jon Batiste performed.
For those watching at home, it sounded like a landslide of approval. But reporters on the ground, like Franco Ordoñez from NPR, described a "strong mix of cheers and jeers." It’s basically the classic modern American experience: a divided room. In the more expensive sections and among certain fan bases, the applause was thick. In other corners, particularly among the rowdy Eagles fans who traveled down to New Orleans, the "bird" was flying in more ways than one.
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The Tale of Two Broadcasts
Social media went into a tailspin immediately after the anthem. Some users claimed that FOX "sweetened" the audio to make the cheers louder, while others shared cell phone footage from the stands showing groups of fans booing loudly.
There's no concrete evidence of "fake noise" being pumped in by the network, but it is a fact that different microphones pick up different things. If a mic is near a pro-Trump section, he sounds like a hero. If it’s near a group of unhappy Philadelphians, he sounds like a villain.
The Taylor Swift Contrast
You can't talk about whether Trump was cheered at the Super Bowl without mentioning the other lightning rod in the room: Taylor Swift.
Swift was there to support her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. In a weird twist of cultural irony, several reports and viral clips suggested that Swift actually received more concentrated boos from the Philly crowd than the President did.
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Trump didn't miss the chance to point this out. Writing on Truth Social after the Eagles' dominant win, he mocked the "tough night" Swift had, claiming "MAGA is very unforgiving!" and asserting that his reception was far warmer. It’s a wild reality where a pop star and a President are competing for "decibel dominance" at a football game, but that’s 2025 for you.
Why This Moment Mattered
Before this, sitting presidents usually stayed away. They'd do a pre-game interview, maybe call the winners, but actually showing up? That was a bridge too far because of the security nightmare and the potential for a PR disaster.
Trump’s appearance signaled a shift in the NFL’s "culture war." Remember 2017? The kneeling controversy? The "get that son of a bitch off the field" comments? By 2025, that tension had cooled into a sort of uneasy peace. Even Travis Kelce, who has been a target of some conservative criticism in the past, called it a "great honor" to have the President there.
Factors that influenced the crowd reaction:
- The Location: New Orleans is a blue city, but the Super Bowl is an elite event. Ticket prices averaged over $8,000, which naturally skews the live audience toward a wealthier, often more conservative demographic.
- The Teams: The Eagles and the Chiefs both have massive, passionate fan bases. Philly fans are notoriously "passionate" (read: they will boo anyone), while the Chiefs have often been associated with middle-American values that align with Trump's base.
- The Timing: Coming just weeks after his second inauguration, the "honeymoon phase" for his supporters was at its peak.
Separating Viral Myths from Reality
A lot of the "booing" videos you might see floating around are actually old. One viral clip showing Trump being "mercilessly booed" at the Superdome was actually from 2020, during a College Football Championship game. It’s super easy to get fooled by these because the stadium looks identical.
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The truth is nuanced. He wasn't universally loved in that building, but he certainly wasn't "booed out" either. It was a loud, messy, 50/50 split that reflected exactly where the country is right now.
What to Watch for Next
If you're trying to figure out the "truth" behind crowd reactions at major events, always look for "raw" fan footage from the nosebleed seats rather than the official broadcast. The broadcast is a produced show; the stands are reality.
Moving forward, expect this to become a new tradition. The "Presidential Super Bowl appearance" is likely here to stay, regardless of who is in office.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Verify the Audio: If you see a video of the reaction, check if the audio matches the mouth movements of the fans in the frame.
- Check the Date: Ensure the footage is actually from Super Bowl LIX (February 9, 2025) and not the 2020 LSU game.
- Look at Multiple Sources: Compare reports from local New Orleans outlets with national sports networks to get a full picture of the stadium's "vibe."