By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The US Open broadcasters have been asked not to highlight any negative reactions to Donald Trump at Sunday’s men’s final.
Trump is expected to attend the match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in New York, with security heightened at Flushing Meadows.
He has been invited by a sponsor of the tournament and will watch the match from a corporate suite.
“We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showcasing any disruptions to the President’s attendance in any capacity,” a memo sent out by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) read.
Trump, who was re-elected in 2024 for a second term in office, has not been to the New York City tournament since he first came to power in 2016.
The Trump Organization once controlled a suite at the U.S. Open which was adjacent to the television broadcasting booth in Arthur Ashe Stadium, but suspended it in 2017, during the first year of Trump’s first term.
Despite Trump’s past association with the tournament, having a sitting president at the U.S. Open is unusual. It hasn’t happened since Bill Clinton attended in 2000. Former President Barack Obama and wife, Michelle, attended the opening night in 2023.