Trump’s Arrival at U.S. Open Delays Match, Leaves Seats Empty

President Donald Trump’s arrival at the U.S. Open men’s singles final led to significant delays for spectators, resulting in empty seats at the Arthur Ashe Stadium during a highly anticipated match. The final, featuring top players Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, was scheduled to begin at 14:00 ET but commenced at 14:30 ET due to “security measures” aimed at ensuring fans could reach their seats.

Trump made his entrance at approximately 13:45 ET, waving to a crowd that was only about 10% full at the time. His presence prompted a mix of cheers and boos from the audience. He took his seat in the Rolex box at midcourt alongside several prominent figures, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was accompanied by his daughter Arabella Kushner.

The lack of attendance was evident, with many fans still waiting in long security lines. One announcer remarked, “So many still waiting in security lines to get in, a lot of them were caught off guard … not told to prepare for this.” Another commentator expressed disappointment over the empty seats, saying, “That’s a bummer. These two are going at it.”

Many spectators faced frustrating delays. Leah Gomberg, 57, reported waiting nearly four hours due to unexpected traffic and extensive security checks. She noted the presence of approximately 30 TSA-level security scanners at the stadium entrance, which she described as unusual for the U.S. Open. Gomberg recounted waiting 80 minutes just to reach the scanners.

“There are thousands of people, and it’s already one set through. We’ve all paid a lot of money to get into our seats, and we can’t,” Gomberg said in an interview with NBC News. After gaining entry at 15:50 ET, she expressed the frustration of those around her, stating, “Everybody is pissed off. There was a lot of booing in the beginning. People from all over the world are standing here because they came to the U.S. Open to see tennis. Now it’s half-empty in there, although all the famous people are there, and of course Mr. Trump is in there, but not the people who paid a lot of money for their tickets.”

Gomberg also described the difficulties encountered while traveling to the venue. “We actually were stuck on the highway and got out of the car and walked more than a mile, leaving my husband to try to find parking. He had to park on the other side of the Open on the streets because they just stopped people. There was no getting into parking.”

The incident underscores the challenges faced by attendees at high-profile events, particularly when unexpected security measures disrupt access. This year’s U.S. Open has drawn significant attention, not just for the matches, but also for the attendance of notable figures, including former President Trump.