The United States Tennis Association (USTA), host of the US Open, asked broadcasters not to air “distractions” that may arise from President Trump’s attendance at the Sunday opening ceremony for the men’s singles final match, multiple outlets report.
“With respect to Broadcast Coverage, the President will be shown on the World Feed and the Ashe Court Feed during the opening anthem ceremony,” read an email to broadcasters first obtained by Bounces and reviewed by multiple outlets, including the New York Times.
“We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President’s attendance in any capacity, including ENG [Electronic News Gathering] coverage,” it reportedly continued.
The message comes after a 2015 appearance from Trump warranted jeers from the crowd.
“We regularly ask our broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions,” Brian McIntyre, a spokesperson for the USTA, said in a statement to The Hill.
This year, the president will sit in a suite sponsored by Rolex while attending the men’s final match, according to The Associated Press.
Currently, the Swiss-based company is facing a 39 percent tariff on products imported to the U.S., notes the AP.
Trump’s appearance at the faceoff between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz comes a day after Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus clenched her second title at the US Open on Saturday.
In remarks after her win, Sabalenka thanked Americans for cheering her on throughout numerous performances at the Billie Jean National Tennis Center in New York.
