Trump on mixed reaction at US Open: ‘Progressive’ fans ‘were great’

President Trump shrugged off the jeers that rang out when he was shown on screen during at the U.S. Open on Sunday and instead focused on the more positive reactions he saw from the crowd when asked about his experience later that evening.

“They were really nice — the fans were really nice. I didn’t know what to expect,” Trump told reporters upon his return to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland as he made his return to the White House after taking in the tennis tournament. “Usually, you would say that would be a somewhat-progressive — as they say nowadays — crowd.”

“But they were great. The fans were great,” he added.

The U.S. Tennis Association, which hosts the annual event, had asked broadcasters to “refrain from showcasing any disruptions to the President’s attendance in any capacity,” but broadcasts on ESPN and ABC reportedly captured the mixed reaction when the president was shown on the screen during the U.S. Open Men’s Final.

Trump, who was a high-profile New York City businessman for decades, remarked that he used to go to the U.S. Open often, but the massive security operation involving a sitting president has made the task “a little bit more difficult.”

“I loved it,” he said Sunday. “First of all, the two players have unbelievable talent … incredible talent.”

The match start time Sunday was pushed back as security went through extra measures to check fans in through the gates, prompting some complaints about the disruptions, with some would-be spectators stuck in line chanting, “Let us in! Let us in!”

Spain’s Carlos Alvarez defeated Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the final in four sets.